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  • Wine of Violence

  • The Medieval Mysteries, Book 1
  • By: Priscilla Royal
  • Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
  • Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (286 ratings)
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Wine of Violence cover art

Wine of Violence

By: Priscilla Royal
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Summary

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.

What listeners say about Wine of Violence

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Medieval whodunit

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - an easy read for historical detective addicts, read it almost in one.

What did you like best about this story?

Eleanor, the new prioress. Intelligent, intuitive, with a sense of humour - and of course beautiful.
Also the details about the monastery life.

What about Wanda McCaddon’s performance did you like?

I have heard Wanda McCaddon on different books - all clear performances that help the book along with good rhythm and almost perfect diction.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is not high drama - but does have humour in the perennial quirks of people.

Any additional comments?

At the very end there are some anachronistic reflections on morality which were superfluous.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Grrrr....

Sorry I couldn't finish this. A very long preamble. It didn't come to life . The sexual content seemed a bit crude and Oh dear what is the matter with the narrator. The story is set in medieval England! I didn't expect it to read like Chaucer but in England we pronounce clerk as Clark and herbs with an aitch not a silent aitch. I just couldn't stand hearing urbs and clirk once more. I appreciate Americans pronounce them that way but in an English story and with that cut glass accent? - No! Sorry about the rant but can't finish this. The headline is optional. Why am I being forced to write one?

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

enjoyed it very much

I really enjoyed this book, it's a bit of a 'feel good' story even tho it's a murder mystery.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable mediaeval mystery

Sympathetic characters lead this story of pride, ambition and murder. The murderer is not a great shock but that’s not a problem. This more a meditation on good and bad than a straight whodunnit.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting but poorly told

I have to repeat the opinion of another reviewer, in that while the story echoed with historic detail and some characters were alive and 3 dimensional, most others were left flat and without enough detail.

Mostly though, the author's habit of telling us in long prose about conversations that had happened,rather than driving the experience of the story through the conversations themselves, became tiring and repetitious by the end. It interfered with the connection to the characters, and I shan't pay to hear more long reporting of past events in the next books.

Also, the strange focus on sex rather unbalanced it all, and felt discordant, rather than enhancing understanding of the characters.
Shame really, had great potential as a series of stories.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

struggled to finish it

liked book 1 book 2 just seemed to drone on and on played a word game at the same time not good

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Interesting premise but...

...so many things wrong with this story. Lack of knowledge about British geography, British accent but jarring American mispronounciations, contorted and painful attempt at sexual content, and one dimensional characters. Didn't finish, didn't care who/what/why.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Had to give up

Not for me. Jarring narrator voice. Sounds like the narrator is reading to children. Story line not compelling and characters are like a teen novel. Do not recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Great Listen!

Well performed and read for the most part. Research appears to have been meticulously done. I certainly want to know if and where Thomas goes next. Certainly times were hard in them, there days!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent read

An interesting, entertaining and involving read. One of the best Medieval mysteries I have listened to with well described and genuine characters with their flaws and secrets. The murder mystery is good if a little slow in parts and the killer was fairly obvious but this did not detract from the story. Priscilla Royal is a new author to me and one I will definitely be interested in reading more of. Wanda McCaddon is an excellent narrator.

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