Read almost 300 pages before tossing.

Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Yet another medieval fiction; a good one! From Library Journal online at amazon.com: "For her third historical novel, Penman focuses on the mid-13th-century reign of England's Henry III and stories of those who opposed that inept king. A main detractor is French-born Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, who leads the fight for parliamentary restrictions on the monarch, and later becomes Henry's brother-in-law through marriage to Eleanor, Countess of Pembroke." Was obviously on a medieval reading course during this time of life; check out other books read during the years 1995-97. And, interesting that they were all written by women. ( )

Falls the Shadow picks up where Here Be Dragons left off, with English and Welsh relations at a stalemate, at least until Welsh prince Llewellyn dies and Henry III's sister marries Simon de Montfort, a French nobleman whose star is on the rise. Simon's emerging influence among the peasantry, as well as an increasing number of nobility, proves to be an unexpectedly dangerous rival to the wimpy English king.

Whoa. This was a crazy interesting time period. The frequently changing allegiances are dizzying, and Simon de Montfort seems like such an implausibly larger-than-life character that it's surprising his name and legacy aren't better known into the present. About halfway through the book it occurred to me that there had been minimal focus on the Welsh perspective and the Welsh princes themselves, despite the title of the series. Penman does a fair job in the Author's Note justifying her choice to focus on English goings-on and what amounts to "filler," but I nevertheless feel that a thorough understanding of Davydd or Llewellyn and their personalities, motivations, exploits and foibles, was noticeably lacking. Looking forward to the third and final installment, with hopes that the focus returns to Wales. ( )

In her author’s note to this book, Sharon Kay Penman explains that her plan to follow up Here Be Dragons was to cover the lives of both Simon de Montfort and Llywelyn the Last. But Simon’s story proved to be much larger than half a book would allow, so Penman wisely ceded the stage to him for this second book.

Simon, born in France, married to the English king’s sister, proves to be the staunchest believer in an English king’s obligations to his people. Unfortunately, Henry III was the sort of person who really shouldn’t have been king: petulant, easily led by whichever follower he spoke to last, and definitely not a battlefield champion. Simon seems to fit the mould of kingship more, with his charisma, decisive battle tactics, and concern for the welfare of more citizens than earlier kings had considered. But his promotion of the Oxford Provisions smacks of treason to Henry…

I liked this even more than Here Be Dragons, probably because there weren’t any awkward sex scenes between people with large age differences (like Llywelyn Fawr and Joanna in the first book). I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of the de Montfort family and their various exploits, as well as the struggles Simon faced in attempting to get people on board with the Oxford Provisions.

In my head I was comparing this with Edith Pargeter’s Brothers of Gwynedd quartet—those books don’t go into quite as much detail but move a bit more quickly, from what I recall. They would complement each other nicely.

Side note: I was reading this when the news broke that Sharon Kay Penman had died, and the title seemed fitting. A shadow had fallen over the world of historical fiction with her passing. But what a rich legacy she has left. ( )

Book Version: St. Martin's Press, 2008, PB, 580 pages
Part of a Series: Welsh princes, #2
Language Difficulty Level: Contains less common (terms of) items, tools or actions in medieval society
Reading Difficulty level: Easy to follow, not too technical
Character Depth: High
Historical Accuracy (if applicable): Less poetic version can be read on Wikipedia
Illustrations: Minimal - maps and family trees at start of the book
Amount of POV: No strict structure, minimal but multiple
Type of POV: Third person, occasional narrator commentary
CAWPILE Score: 9.14/10
ESRB would rate it: Mature 17+ - Contains violence, blood and gore and/or strong language

Although this book is part of a series called “Welsh Princes”, there is not much focus on them for the majority of the story. This book, I feel, could be split into 2 distinct parts – 1st one with young Simon, that focuses mostly about wrapping up the story of Llywelyn Fawr, his family, succession of Davydd and later Llywelyn the Last. Second and larger part deals almost entirely around Simon de Montfort, his wife, his sons and his struggle with the English Crown and reforms that were attempted all too early by a few centuries.

Anyone who knows even a tiny bit about these turbulent times will come to this book knowing that there was no happy ending to be had for any party involved. Simply put, this book is tragic – friendships broken, families torn asunder, betrayals, scheming and a lot of deaths. When someone of Sharon’s caliber comes writing about it, you will be transported to this era, you will fall in love with all the characters she managed to bring to life…, and you will feel for their plights and wish history could be changed. I should have hated a lot of the characters in this book…but I could not. They were all so vivid and multi-dimensional that all their actions had logic behind them - all of them were reactions to events that happened in the book (and as such in history).

Speaking of historicity of the text – Sharon has a very strict adherence to historical fact and is very responsible with handling such information. Due to the age of the written text, some of it may be disproved/expanded in recent research and thus not be reflected in the book. Even so, she does toy with the events somewhat (e.g. moving a conclave by 2 days for better flow of story) and tends to add characters that did not exist for another point of view on the main players of her stories. Each time it happens, she informs of such tampering in her author’s notes and I am glad for it, because it’s written in so well I never found it jarring or out of place. The minimal scale of it and the fact she is very transparent about it makes her stories one of the most historically accurate I have read so far, minus actual historical essays.

Thus to my last point – a few people criticize Sharon for her strict adherence to history and fact. I think this book suffers most from it. There was a lot of back and forth politicking, machinations and agreements here and there. It was rather late in the story when events started unfolding into an open conflict. As such, the book is extremely slow burn in the middle section. Another issue that underlined this problem was the very character of Simon de Montfort. It was very difficult to relate to a character who was so certain in what he was doing to a point of obstinacy. The characters around him were all vivid and colorful, but he was just…grey. The book picked up sharply for its last stretch though, including the ever-serious Simon, and the finale was heartbreaking.

Definitely recommend it if you are interested in this tumultuous era in English history. ( )

Read almost 300 pages before tossing.

Summary: A historical fiction account of the tense relationship and eventual conflict between incompetent Henry III (and his son Edward I) and Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester and husband of Henry's sister, as well as the struggle of Llewellyn, eventual Prince of Wales and grandson of Llewellyn the Great to hold and unite Wales against the English.

In recent years I've discovered the historical fiction of Sharon Kay Penman (I reviewed [https://bobonbooks.com/2015/07/17/review-here-be-dragons/] Here Be Dragons, the first volume of this series on Llewellyn the Great in July 2015) and have loved her introduction to the world of the thirteenth century and the conflicts between England and Wales. This is definitely "backlist" and you probably can find inexpensive used copies of the whole series, which I would definitely recommend.

This volume is actually focused less on Welsh princes than on Simon de Montfort and the increasing tensions between him and his brother-in-law, King Henry III that eventually led to all-out war. Penman in an Author's Note, informs us that she originally had planned to split focus between Llewellyn and Simon but found she could not do justice to both in the same book and so devoted this one to Simon.

Who was this Simon and why did he pose such a threat to Henry? Born in France, he accompanied his father in battle as a boy and learned courage, the leadership of others, and strategic thinking. An ambitious young man, he seeks to claim the family lands in England and persuades the Earl of Chester, a childless old man to yield them to him. He persuades Eleanor (Nell), sister of Henry to marry him, forsaking a vow of chastity she'd sworn after the death of her first husband. He effectively served the king in suppressing unrest in Gascony, only to be called to account by the King who listened more to the rebels than to him, sowing seeds of discord.

Meanwhile, his sons Bran and Harry, and Henry's son Edward become fast friends and hell-raisers. Henry, however, in contrast to Simon, is ineffective in battle and without sense in his administration, spending lavishly in excess of his means. Eventually, Henry is forced by Parliament, with Simon in the lead to agree to the Provisions of Oxford, which held the king accountable to his people. No king wished his power to be constrained by his subjects and this earned Simon his hatred, and sowed the seeds of war. Edward, deceiving Harry, rallies some of the Barons to the king's cause, Simon suffers numerous setbacks and even flees to France at one point. Eventually he gains a decisive victory over the King, in part due to a battlefield error of Edward, at the Battle of Lewes in 1264. Simon attempts to rule in the King's name implementing the Provisions, but quickly the situation degenerates as Edward escapes, the Barons rally to him, Simon and his son Bran are separated, and Bran decisively defeated by a lightning attack. Although helped by Llewellyn, Simon is undermanned and unaware of what has befallen his son, and is cornered by Edward at the fateful battle of Evesham in 1265.

In the backdrop of this primary narrative, is the uneasy relationship between Llewellyn and his younger brother Davydd over the leadership of Wales. As is the case in so much of royal history, it is the story of marriages between rival houses, and the conflicts of love and loyalty in consequence. Penman also exposes the plight of the Jews in England, hindered from all commerce but money lending, and hated for it, within often fatal consequences. We see the low status of the towns, expected to contribute to the king's coffers, but enjoying no power, that Simon tried to elevate.

Simon de Montfort is remembered today as an early advocate of representative government. This work portrays him as a courageous man of integrity whose very convictions led to the tragedy of his end. He was too good for his King in many ways, earning the King's undying hatred. In the end, men willingly followed him to death and pilgrims claimed healings at his grave. Unlike the religious martyrs under Henry VIII, Simon, portrayed by Penman as a God-fearing man of faith and friend of clergy, was a martyr to the idea that Kings should not be answerable to God alone, but also to those they rule. Penman not only tells a great story but does us a great service in bringing to life the greatness of Simon de Montfort, sixth Earl of Leicester. ( )

This is the book about simon de Monfort and Henry III. We do meet Edward I who is shown to be less than heroic but politically very astute. ( )

"Here Be Dragons" is probably my favorite Penman novel, with "Sunne in Splendour" it's only rival. "Falls the Shadow" and "The Reckoning" are the two other parts of Penman's "Welsh Princes" Trilogy and I avoided them for years based on the titles and knowledge of its contents alone. "Here Be Dragons" is a rarity among Penman's fiction--essentially a love story, one with a happy, if somewhat bittersweet ending. She makes you fall in love with medieval Wales in that book and knowing history--and seeing those titles, I was reluctant to read the tragic events that caused it to be swallowed by England.

Well, I'm glad I finally caught up with this one, even if it doesn't quite have the place in my heart of my top two favorites--thus four stars instead of five. t have just one more Penman book to read--the sequel to this one continuing the story of one of the characters, Llewelyn ap Gruffudd. So I think I can safely say that for all his flaws, Simon de Montfort, the central character of this book is Penman's most heroic, inspiring figure. Penman calls him in her afterward "Shakespearean" and she paints his virtues and his flaws vividly. Which at the end actually made it harder for me as I drew towards the end. It's not because of flaws in the writing or pacing--rather than the reverse. I know English history all too well, but if I hadn't--well, Penman does all to well in depicting the reasons Montfort was in for a fall. I also think she did better in her later Angevin series about Henry II and Eleanor of Acquitaine in showing a tension between antagonists so your sympathies were pulled in both directions. There's not much appealing here about Montfort's enemies, although from time to time she does make you feel a little sympathy for the hapless, utterly inept Henry III.

I'm both looking forward to and almost dreading reading "The Reckoning." After that one I won't have more Penman to read--only reread. And I doubt there's going to be a happy ending for any character--any historical figure--I care about. Certainly not for Wales. I do know one thing though after having read about a dozen Penman books--it'll be a great ride. ( )

The second book in Penman’s England/Wales trilogy is every bit as good as the first. While continuing the storylines from Here Be Dragons, it also introduces the reader to Simon de Montfort, who fought hard to bring about political reform in England. Penman once again brings the 13th century to life with this outstanding work of historical fiction. ( )

Second in the Welch trilogy. Tale of Simon de Montfort, King Henry, and the grandson of prince Llywellen. Not as riveting as Here Be Dragons, but a good read nevertheless. On to the final section of the trilogy. ( )

A re-read, first read this as a teenager. In fact, I suspect Mum thinks she owns the copy I have. Kind of the middle of a trilogy, but they stand alone pretty well. Follows the life & times of 2 amazing men, Simon de Montfort & Llewelyn ap Gruffyd, grandson of Llewelyn the great. The characters are all clearly defined and brought to dazzling life, their strengths and weaknesses laid bare. The conflict between Simon and the King over his leadership (or lack of it). It is so clearly depicted that you find yourself backing Simon to the hilt. But you know, ahead of time, that it ends badly, and so it does. Last few chapters are a trial to read and (yet again) reduced me to a quivery mass of tears. It's a rivetting read, rolling along through france, England & Wales, through small country interludes and great state occasions with pace and the pages whizz by beneath your eyes. The Welsh chapters are equally eventful, but in a different way, they don;t have the glamour of the de montforts, but they have a charm of their own. The stories merge and mingle throughout, with Simon's wife, Nell, being the half sister of Llewelyn the Great, where we start the story. By the end, Llewelyn and Simon's daughter have been betrothed, but this has bene broken off after the battle and fall from grace. Some lovely vignettes that don't necessarily advance the story, but go a long way to flesh out the main protagonists. it's a story of dreams - a fair society and a united Wales. Neither come to pass in this book, but you can't help feeling that both dreams were dazzling enough to take the breath away, certainly worth fighting for - but to fight and fail? how terrible can a dream become. ( )

This book follows 'Here be dragons'.This book was written in 1986. It is the second in a trilogy and a fantastic read.

One of Penman's earlier novels and the second in her trilogy chronicling thirteenth-century England and Wales, Falls the Shadow tells the story of the uncompromising Simon de Montfort and his collision course with his mercurial brother-in-law, Henry III. Like the rest of Penman's novels, Falls the Shadow is well-researched and beautifully written ( )

Wonderful book, hard to put down. Penman has a way with English history, making it easier to understand. She is a good match to Thomas Costain, who's books are similar in readability.

Addendum: added to my library 2/22/12 ( )

The second in a trilogy about the English kings and Welsh princes in the twelfth and thirteenth century.
Here Be Dragons was the first book, concentrating on Llewellyn Fawr and King John, in this one King Henry III, Llewellyn ap Gruffydd, and Simon de Montford are the leading characters. The scope is vast, the life of one of these men alone would easily fill a book, but the combination of these three is masterfully done.
Very romanticized, but compellingly told. A thick fat book to enjoy in just a few evenings. ( )

One of Penman's earlier novels and the second in her trilogy chronicling thirteenth-century England and Wales, Falls the Shadow tells the story of the uncompromising Simon de Montfort and his collision course with his mercurial brother-in-law, Henry III. Like the rest of Penman's novels, Falls the Shadow is well-researched and beautifully written. ( )

This book took forever to get through. Sure, I only read it during my occasional lunch break at work, but it didn't help that I never cared enough to read it any other time. Very dense. Very slow. Even with the maps and family tree in the front of the book places and relationships got muddled. The author's writing quirks got annoying after a while, especially when they found their way into the dialogue. By the end I forced myself to finish as a matter of pride. At times entertaining and occasionally educational. ( )

Quite educational but icky ( )

I love historical fiction and I think she's one of the best out there. ( )

In "Falls the Shadow" Penman continues her trilogy of the turbulent times in Wales and England through the troubled thirteenth century.

We meet again characters introduced in a peripheral fashion in "Here Be Dragons" - the grandson of Llewelyn Fawr, also called Llewelyn; the sister of both Joanna and Henry III of England, Eleanor often called Nell; and Elen, daughter of Llewelyn Fawr and Joanna.

This tale takes us back to just before the death of Joanna - a time of relative peace between Wales and England. It centres upon the characters of Nell and Simon de Montfort - a celebrated soldier whose silvered tongue won him back an earldom from the Earl of Chester - and their conflict with the King of England.

Simon is a man with a zeal for reform, which includes making a King accountable to his Lords and bishops rather than just to God. Clearly, this was a view that had little appeal for Henry of England - believing himself to be the Anointed and chosen of God - and the two men (plus their sons) got caught up in a terrible conflict that culminated on the battlefield.

Although the novel is as well written as any of Penman's historical epics, with rich details of medieval life, it is not as fast reading. I attributed this mainly to the fact that I had very little sympathy or liking for many of the characters. I felt that Simon and Nell's relationship was based upon a casual disregard for religious oaths - since Nell had dedicated herself to God after the death of her first husband. The fact that they then defied and lied to the King of England - implying that Nell was with child to ensure his agreement - left me feeling as though they were due a comeuppance.

Add to that the feeble character of Henry III (widely held to be one of England's most incompetent kings), whose petty motivations caused so many of the issues through the novel; his arrogant and dishonourable son Edward; the the carousing sons of Nell and Simon, and it doesn't feel as though there are many characters that deserve liking or respect.

I will read the third book in the trilogy, but I was glad that "Here Be Dragons" was my first foray into Penman's work, since it is preferable in every way. ( )

The second novel in Penman's Welsh trilogy -- although by rights this was more about England's hero (or anti-hero depending on your perspective) Simon de Monfort, both his rise and his fall as he strove to make his King, the hapless Henry III, accountable to the people. Llewelyn the Great's grandson and namesake filters in and out of the story as he grapples with internecine strife and the fate of Wales.

There was alot of back and forth in this novel and perhaps more confusing changes of allegiance than even the War of the Roses -- but Penman does the story justice and as per usual, there were a few parts that made me misty eyed. It fell just a bit short of the first novel, 'Here Be Dragons.' I never quite became as emotionally attached to this cast of characters -- perhaps because the focus of the novel shifted so often.

I will eagerly read the third installment (as soon as I can find it - it seems to be out of print) and I continue to be a fan of this author's marvelous historical fiction of medieval times. 'For certes,' it is almost hard for me to think about moving away from this enchantment and reading something else. ( )

The second in the trilogy, with the story concentrated on Simon de Montfort, although the Welsh Princes are still integral to the story. It offers a believable account of the period leading up to the battle of Evesham, and Penman does a great job at characterizing Henry III, Edward I and the de Montfort brood. Highly recommended. ( )

One of a series written by Penman that is among my favorite all-time historical fiction work. If you have to read just one of the series (all substantial books), read "Here be Dragons" but this book is also excellent. ( )

Falls the Shodow continues the trilogy that began with Here Be Dragons. In my opinion this wasn't as good as the first, but I still enjoyed it very much. ( )

1231-1267. I liked this one more than Time and Chance. Since my family have strong links with Kenilworth, Simon de Montford’s main castle, he has always been a name bandied around the house but until now I didn’t know anything about him. Ms Penman makes him out to be a man of our time believing in democracy for the people. I thought she might be romanticising her character for the sake of a good read but having surfed the net I find that she has just put her inimitable stamp on what turns out to be the accepted view of Simon de Montford as the “father of Parliament”. I am glad I know more about Simon de Montford and I’m glad it was Sharon Penman who introduced me to him. I also will now read more about him and since my family are still in the locality I shall be visiting Evesham and seeing Kenilworth castle in a new light. I wish I lived in the locality as the Simon de Montford Society based in Evesham seems to have a very interesting programme of monthly events this year! ( )