Skip to main content

Blog Tour: Consolamentum (Book #3 of The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy) by Rebecca Hazell: A Book Review

Consolamentum (Book #3 of The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy)
Author: Rebecca Hazell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 355
Source: This book was given to me as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: In the finale of Sofia's memoir, Consolamentum, both dramatic and poignant, her dreams of home are shattered when her own family betrays her. Raising her child on her own, mourning the loss of her beloved knight, and building a trading empire, she seeks safe haven for her child and herself. Her quest takes her from Antioch to Constantinople to Venice. A surprise reunion in Venice leads her to France where she runs afoul of the newly established Holy Inquisition, possibly the greatest challenge she has yet faced. Can a woman so marked by oppression, betrayal, and danger ever find her safe haven, much less genuine happiness?

     My Review: Consolamentum is the final novel in The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy. It seems that the worst is over for Sofia, however, in this novel it still seems that Sofia has to endure more trials in order for her to get her happiness. In this novel, Sofia eventually reaches her destination of Constantinople, but events take her  to France and the Holy Inquisition. All the while she waits to find love.

     Sofia is very human. She makes mistakes. Yet, over time, she learns the lessons from her mistakes. She is independent and makes strong choices. She is a deep thinker, and knows that tremendous events in her life affects her. In this way, Sofia has matured since when she was first in the book. One of the most interesting parts of the novel that showed Sofia’s strengths in the novel was when her uncle imprisons Sofia and when she is charged for heresy in the Holy Inquisition. Though Sofia is a victim, she never gives up or loses hope. 

     While this is a historical novel, it also discusses a lot of philosophy. This novel also discusses the religion and cultures during that time. The main topic of the book is that it is the people that grip their ideas about God. Because of this, it makes us do harm to others and that is where the danger lies. There are famous historical characters, like Queen Marguerite, one of the four Provence sisters who all became queens, and King Louis. To me, my favorite part in the novel was the Holy Inquisition, where Sofia is suspected of heresy.

     Overall, this novel was a great conclusion to the series.  It is about betrayal, love, hope, and faith. It is about finding one’s identity. The message of the book is that every person in your life that you interact with gives you your identity and makes you stronger and wiser. For it is the people that Sofia met and her experiences that have made her overcome her obstacles and find her happiness. The novel can be a bit dull sometimes because it talks  a lot about philosophy and religion, yet the characters and the setting is well-developed. I recommend this to anyone interested in life in the middle ages, medieval Europe, the Holy Inquisition. This is a great historical epic about a woman trying to find happiness in a cruel world.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars



Comments

  1. Wonderful review, Lauralee! I'm so glad you liked the book...the entire trilogy for that matter. Thanks again for touring with us. We really appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. 'To me, my favorite part in the novel was the Holy Inquisition, where Sofia is suspected of heresy.' I DO hope that it had a happy ending, Lauralee; I would imagine that a Holy Inquisition could be quite daunting...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks. I agree the Holy Inquisition is quite daunting.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The AncientWorld by Adrienne Mayor: A Book Review

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The Ancient World Author:  Adrienne Mayor Genre: Nonfiction, History Publisher: Princeton University Press Release Date: 2014 Pages: 530 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Amazons—fierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known world—were the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons.      But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging, and lavishly illustrated book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrio...

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn: A Book Review

The Rose Code Author: Kate Quinn Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Harper Collins Release Date: 2021 Pages: 635 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: 1940, Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire.        Three very different women are recruited to the mysterious Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes.       Vivacious debutante Osla has the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses – but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, working to translate decoded enemy secrets. Self-made Mab masters the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and the poverty of her East-End London upbringing. And shy local girl Beth is the outsider who trains as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts.       1947, London.        Seven years after they first meet, on the eve of the roya...

A Right Worthy Woman by Ruth P. Watson: A Book Review

A Right Worthy Woman Author: Ruth P. Watson Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Atria Books Release Date: 2023 Pages: 303 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the vein of The Personal Librarian and The House of Eve , a “remarkable and stirring novel” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author) based on the inspiring true story of Virginia’s Black Wall Street and the indomitable Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who became the first Black woman to establish and preside over a bank in the United States.       Maggie Lena Walker was ambitious and unafraid. Her childhood in 19th-century Virginia helping her mother with her laundry service opened her eyes to the overwhelming discrepancy between the Black residents and her mother’s affluent white clients. She vowed to not only secure the same kind of home and finery for herself, but she would also help others in her community achi...