Link : Amazon, Goodreads. £8.99
Here we are at the third book in the Accursed Kings series, and Louis X still isn’t a very good King, but he is very excited at the prospect of a new Queen (having murdered his last one). So much so that he neglects or outright ignores the brewing conflict between Robert of Artois and his Aunt Mahaut, and the violent struggle between his father’s progress or a return to feudalism.
Louis X is not just a bad human being, he’s bad at being a human being. Unlike Countess Mahaut, who positively relishes villainy, or Robert of Artois who simply doesn’t value any human life that isn’t his own, Louis kills, tortures and betrays largely because he can’t think of a better idea and someone smarter than him suggests it.
This would make him a problematic protagonist – I’ve just finished re-reading Interview with the Vampire and one morally compromised indecisive Louis is sufficient for a lifetime – but Druon is smart enough to focus on the power struggle around this vacuous King. This makes for fascinating reading. How do you manoeuvre around a man with technical absolute power when you have no idea how he might choose to use it at any moment? The feud between Mahaut and Robert is great, and Louis makes the perfect centrepiece.
Then, suddenly, the book takes a sharp left turn and becomes about the redemptive power of love. The new Queen is a genuine good person and, totally enamoured with her, it seems that Louis, if not good, might strive to become mildly benevolent or even competent. This is paralleled with the continuing adventures of the young Lombard Guccio as he tries to win the impoverished noblewoman’s daughter Marie. Right smack here in the French middle ages, where nothing ever turns out well, Druon makes us hope. Oh dear.
Another brilliant read. Can’t wait for book 4 (happily, I don’t have to!)
