Mistress of the Maze

The Legend of Rosamund Clifford

By: J.P. Reedman

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Rosamund Clifford, one of the most famous royal mistresses of all time—concubine to Henry II, the first Plantagenet King. A young maiden ruled by a grasping father who will stop at nothing to promote his own cause with the King...even using his daughter's beautiful face and enticing body to gain high favour. A fearful girl taken by a mysterious messenger from Godstow nunnery to a Tower surrounded by a grotesque topiary labyrinth, where she must wait for the arrival of the master of the maze—not the Minotaur of ancient Greek myth but the bull-like Plantagenet King Henry.
Drawn like a moth to a flame, Rosamund soon grows to love the charismatic King, but when her love is reciprocated, she makes a terrible enemy, Henry’s estranged wife, the powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine. When Henry locks Queen Eleanor in Sarum castle and speaks of annulment, Rosamund thinks she has no more to fear from her rival. But a spurned Queen is a dangerous foe…

The terrible narration

Not much. I did not enjoy it. The narration with its awkward syntax was too distracting

First half good, second half contrived

The development of the relationship between "Fair Rosamund," Rosamund Clifford, mistress of Henry II of England, was interesting and enjoyable and I learned some things about her and them I didn't know. When the author veered dramatically from the historical record for her final experiences I lost interest, finished on 1.5 speed just to get it done.