The Lioness by Gigi Griffis

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Book Review of The Lioness (Audiobook) by Gigi Griffis

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook copy of The Lioness by Gigi Griffis. As many books as I have read in my lifetime (which is a lot), I have never listened to an audiobook. Yes! The Lioness is my first-ever audiobook. I listen to podcasts all day long, but I hadn’t listened to an audiobook until now. What are your thoughts on audiobooks? Do you like them? My thoughts? I think I might like it if I’ve previously read the book. I was not really a fan. More thoughts to come, but I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Blurb:

Step into this epic revenge tale a la The Count of Monte Cristo, based on the true story of France’s most notorious lady pirate. By the author of The Empress—as seen on Netflix.

It’s 1343 and Jeanne de Clisson is out for revenge.

At forty-three, her perfect life—a loving husband, three young children, and two castles in the French countryside—shatters when Phillip VI, the King of France, arrests and beheads her husband for treachery.

There’s no evidence and no trial—only the execution. The nobles are shocked. The paranoid king is relieved. And Jeanne…

Jeanne wants the king’s head on a pike.

To get justice, she’ll take to the sea with a pirate fleet. But while she’s burning castles to the ground and sinking merchant ships, the king is hunting her. And the closer she gets to her revenge, the closer the king gets to the people Jeanne loves most.

My Book Review:

One of the reasons I’m not a big fan of audiobooks (after listening to just this one) is that I can’t go back and look at the names of characters or places or reread passages. So, this review is from memory. I’ll do my best! I wasn’t even sure how to spell Jeanne’s name until I saw it on Ms. Griffis’ website when I searched for the blurb. I’ll leave my dislike for the audiobook version out of my review. It’s not Ms. Griffis’ fault that I wasn’t a fan of the audiobook.

One of my all-time favorite books is the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s SOOOO good! Think of that, but now make it a woman and make it 100 times more vindictive and rageful. Wow. Jeanne is one unhappy cookie!

Jeanne’s husband had been out fighting for the king in the war. He hadn’t been home for years. Jeanne hears that he’s coming home and travels to the king’s palace to see his return…only to watch him be accused of treason and beheaded before her eyes. Yeah. She’s VERY angry.

Jeanne gathers a whole bunch of allies, purchases a ship, and drops her young children off in a “safe” place. She then travels the seas burning down ships, raiding castles, and causing all sorts of chaos. She’s so brutal that she becomes known as The Lioness. She’s no longer a gentlewoman, but a notorious pirate. She has traded her castle, being with her children, and her lands for a ship, the ocean, and a few trusted friends. All of this to punish the king for killing her husband.

It’s quite the story! There is lots of action, adventure, and death. Revenge is the ONLY thing on Jeanne’s mind, and consequently, she ends up losing a lot. I don’t know in the end if I’d think it were worth it, but she doesn’t bat an eye at all the destruction she leaves in her wake.

I really liked a few of the supporting characters in the story. I did not like Jeanne at all. I couldn’t relate to her no matter how much I tried. Some of the people around her, though, redeemed the story for me. They showed that there was still humanity in all of the chaos. Were there any lessons learned? Maybe for some of the characters. It was difficult trying to like such an unlikable character, for me.

I was not a huge fan of this book. So much death, destruction, and chaos. Also, I just felt like I was reading a telling of the story–not that I was in the story, if that makes sense. I just could not relate. I did a little bit of research and it looks like Jeanne is based on a real character in the 14th century. Her name was Jeanne de Clisson and she was a French noblewoman. Her nickname was “The Lioness of Brittany.” For me, personally, I could not live my life like that—seeped in revenge. But, she’s infamous now, so I guess it worked for her.