Rating: 
Summary: DEAD ON HISTORICAL FICTION
Review: Sharon K. Penman is a true breath of fresh air in the genre of Historical Fiction writers, in that, she actually cares about getting the history right and the language right; anachronisms are non-existent or at least so rare as to be unnoticed. However, Here be Dragons is almost too sweeping and too epic in its scope. Penman tries to tackle so many details and events resulting in a very choppy read. Every new chapter whisks the reader away to another place, and for the first 200 pages, to new people and events. There are so many characters in this book you almost have to keep notes to follow along (and I'm pretty good with this period!). I feel that the book should have ended with the death of King John; the last 200 pages seemed (to me) as a very long last chapter. Minor criticisms though, to read a book that cares about getting it right and actually teaching a little history is a rarity. Most heartily recommended. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Great read!
Review: This is a wonderful historical fiction, and a great love story. Fans of Diana Gabaldon, Bernard Cornwell and similar authors will enjoy Penman's attention to detail, realism, and writing style. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Rating:
Summary: An Exquisite Book
Review: Here Be Dragons has been and remains the best book I've ever read. It was absolutely a revelation to me--so deeply realized and engaging. I've gone on to read all of Sharon Kay Penman's books but have never been as moved as I was by this one. It just transcends the genre and creates characters that are utterly, palpably real--all the while giving you a vivid picture of Welsh/English relations in the Middle Ages. Wonderful!!
Rating:
Summary: Cymru Am Byth
Review: A beautiful, magical work. The reviewer who compared it to a Harlequin Romance with a bit of history probably isn't used to reading imaginative, historically-based novels like this one. Yes, most of the characters DID exist but Ms. Penman is a WRITER and therefore at liberty to discuss Llewelyn and Joanna as much as she likes without it taking away from the validity of the work. If you want pure dates and events, read historical NON-fiction! Therefore, I don't think one can review this book for what it is and not see the absolute beauty in it. Only one side of my family is Welsh, but I have always felt FAR more pull towards that aspect of my heritage than the other side. It is a beautiful place and Ms. Penman's work brings Welsh history to life.
Rating:
Summary: Romance first, Historical Fiction second
Review: "Here Be Dragons" begins in the year 1183 and covers events up to 1237, this is the story of Llewelyn, the Welsh prince of Gwynedd, who was successful for a time in uniting the warring tribes of Wales to fight against the English (Normans). The cast of characters in this novel include Richard the Lionheart, King John, Eleanor of Acquitane, Philipe of France and numerous other counts, lords earls, princes etc. The research that went into this book is awesome, Penman's style of writing makes these historical characters come to life, and it's easy to imagine them as real people. Perhaps though, too many events have been crammed into one story, sometimes years have passed between chapters, and there are so many characters and too many repeated names, for example there are three men, a grandfather, father and son all named Will de Braose.The main storyline is the marriage and love between Llewelyn of Wales and Joanna, daughter of King John - she is given to Llewelyn in marriage when she is only 14 in the hopes of making peace between England and Wales. This novel is first a romance, there is much superfluous sex which has nothing to do with historical events, so much space devoted to falling in love, romance and male/female relations during this period of history. If you love romances and are interested in picking up some history while enjoying a great read this one will be a page-turner for you. However, if you're a connoisseur of historical fiction, the Harlequin romance style could be a turnoff.
Rating:
Summary: I do think this is an excellent novel
Review: Everyone is entitled to an opinion, so I am entitled to mine. Here Be Dragons is one of Penman's best piece work. Her abilities shine through in that she can masterfully tie together everything that was happening during this age that was almost one thousand years ago. I do have to disagree with the one reviewer who said that Penman lacked focus. True, Penman does jump from Llewelyn to John to Joanna to England's politics to Wales' struggle. But these people and their stories are not their own separate stories. They are woven together to depict an overall story, and that is the struggle of Wales against England, or Llewelyn against John. The author has to focus on John's fight for the crown and how he came to be on the throne, for he becomes Llewelyn's main enemy and plays a large part in the future of Wales. Joanna is that bridge between the two men and countries. The cause for the jump between days, months, or years is because Penman is focusing on important events; she does not write fluff about every single day of these people's lives to fill pages. I don't think anyone here would enjoy that, for it would become droll and boring; and I cannot imagine life in the dark ages was extremely thrilling from day to day.
This books is amazing because it includes everything: love, personal lives, politics, wars, battles, and a look into everyday society that is so different, and yet, so alike, from our own. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own thoughts, and these are mine.
Rating: 
Summary: I Do Think This Book Is Mayhap All-Right
Review: It is always with trepidation that I dare to give an average rating to a book with so many five star reviews. In the case of Here Be Dragons, however, it must be done. The five star reviews are all understandable. I can appreciate where they are coming from, but I had a very different experience of the book. There were, in my humble opinion, two major flaws that kept me from enjoying the book as much as the 80 or so others who have reviewed it. First, there is, I feel, a lack of focus. The novel opens with ten year old Llewellyn, a Welsh boy raised by a Norman lord. Llewellyn even has his own Obi-Wan type character, Morgan, whose function appears to be to ensure that Llewellyn grows up well-versed in his Welsh heritage. So, the novel appears to be a coming of age one, with Llewellyn seeking out his destiny, reconciling his Welsh heritage with his Norman upbringing. But, no, it's about Prince John Lackland and fight to survive against his brothers. But, no, wrong again - it's about young Joanna who must reconcile the conflicting goals of her father John and her husband Llewellyn. No, still wrong - it's about the Welsh' struggle to remain independent of England. Ultimately, the novel is more about Joanna than anything else but it comes off as a vignette approach to historical fiction - we follow one character for a few days, then jump ahead a couple months or years to another character. Frankly, the apparent lack of focus wouldn't be all that troubling if it were not for Penman's attempt to lend authenticity to her dialogue by using stilted grammar. Overuse of the verb "to do", use of hackneyed words like "mayhap." "I do think John is mayhap angry, Jesu forfend." Every single time a character stuck the word "do" or "does" before a verb it was like a splash of cold water, jarring me out of medieval Wales and back into my 21st century living room. And every character does speak that way, and it do appear on every page. Writers who intend to draw their readers into their worlds should generally avoid stilted, pseudo-period language as it creates an unnecessary barrier between the modern reader and the historical characters. (The only writer I can think of who has successfully done it is James Clavell, and that's primarily because he threw caution to the wind and had fun making up ribald, 16th century European dialogue.) With those two huge caveats, Here Be Dragons has some elements worth reading, including an interesting perspective on King John and wonderful lessons in a period of history most of us know very little about.
Rating:
Summary: A must read
Review: I got to read this book by my friend. I was interested in history so I got grasped from the beginning. What I didn't know was that Welsh history was wonderful. I instantly fell in love with Welsh history. I was so disappointed that Wales became a part of England. I love the way Joanna dealed with her two loving people. Her father John, the English king and her husband Llewelyn, the Welsh king. I am not sure whom I would choose if I were in her situation. But the sounds of her father, I think I would give my support to Llewelyn. If you are wondering what I am talking about, read this book. I guarantee you won¡¯t be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A forgotten realm brought to life
Review: Penman's story is both complicated and clear, historically nearly flawless (she tells you where she's changed things)with the feel of a well-wrought fantasy. I love the setting: Medieval Wales. Not a usual one for historical fiction, and not a place or a people well-known in the popular imagination -- unless you've read this book. The machinations at both the English court and the Welsh, the concrete and dynamic characters (especially Llewellyn, Joanna, and their independent-minded daughter), the careful and searching exploration of the meaning of many types of love and loyalty, and the ever-shifting relations between the two kingdoms of England and Wales make for fascinating reading. All that said, I found something lacking in Penman's writing. She is certainly a GOOD writer, but too often events flew too quickly or ended too abruptly. It doesn't seem to bother the other reviewers, so perhaps it is only my own peculiarity, and it does little enough to make the story less enjoyable. Well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction at its best¿Accurate and Enjoyable
Review: This was the first Sharon Kay Penman novel I had ever read. In fact, I've forgotten the names of most of the other historical fiction novels I have read, because they didn't move me as this book did. Not only does Penman do a wonderful job of introducing solid, likeable, and more importantly, believable characters but she adheres strongly to historical fact, and clearly explains any dates, characters, or other events that she fictionalized and gives good reasoning for doing so. This book inspired a love of history in me that no teacher has ever done in my elementary, secondary, or college education. Indeed, after reading this book I now have a strong desire to travel abroad and visit Wales and England myself.
After reading this book I also bought the other two in the trilogy and The Sunne and the Splendour. Every other book I have read has led me to believe that Penman has a wonderful talent for what she does, and this book, only the first in a collection of treasures, is definitely worth at least reading once in any lover of history's lifetime.
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