enjoyed reading this book

What interested me about this book was not just the history of Melisende the queen but more rather where she came from, the Crusader County of Edessa. The majority of histories of the Crusades do not cover Edessa in any detail and usually just with the comment that it was the first Crusader state to fall. This book however goes into much more detail so we can better understand how Melisende became who she was thus providing a perspective not often seen. ( )

A great new angle on medieval history. The plot of this book shows the complexities and difficulties of being a European living in Jerusalem during the Crusades. The cultural and political environment was in a constant state of change as territories and cities changes hands. Sometimes a Christian would ally with a Muslim against a Christian neighbor. Queen Melisende was the first hereditary queen of Jerusalem and she was able to balance her unique social environment because she was truly born and raised in the Middle East. ( )

Newman has written a fascinating book about medieval history, the crusades, religion, royalty. I loved this look at the Middle East. I had no idea how complex the society was. I always kind of pictured it as Muslim, Jew, Christian. But that is only where it starts. And in the middle of it all was Queen Melisende, hereditary ruler of Jerusalem, born of mixed heritage, eyewitness to the commerce and occasional violence that defined the age. Great read. ( )

I am happy that this author attempts to give women the credit they deserve in the early formation of Christianity.
Recommend reading for any student of history, particularly Christian history. ( )