The Accursed Kings by Maurice Druon

[Sand]

Have any of you read this book series? I ask because it's basically Crusader Kings II: The Book.

Rather than a medieval epic about battles and love and FREEEDOOOOM it's an unforgiving chronicle of family dynastic politics, following the kings of France from the burning of the Templars to the downward spiral leading to the Hundred Years War. There are no over-detailed descriptions of battles or daring rescues or close-call escapes here; just the bitterness and spontaneous violence of royal family rivalries, the chicanery of church vs state and the hell of trying to manage utterly uncontrollable vassals. Assassinations, power, politics and betrayal are the heaviest themes throughout, while heresy, sorcery and devil worship lurk in the background and come into their own later on.

The series was written decades ago in French; I'd recommend the latest translations published by Harper. They contain a foreword from George RR Martin explaining how the series "is the original Game of Thrones" and just how heavily A Song of Ice and Fire was inspired by The Accursed Kings. Vladimir Putin is apparently a huge fan.

Give it a look if you can. If you like Crusader Kings II, this seven-part series should be right up your street.

[Nozdormuss]

not ck2 is there not incest

[whlightnin]

Vladimir Putin is a huge fan? Yeah it's gonna be a no from me then bro

[Sand]

Originally posted by Nozdormus:

not ck2 is there not incest

It's based on real events and people, so no, nothing brother-sister, but enough cousin-cousin to produce generations of problems.

Originally posted by whlightnin:

Vladimir Putin is a huge fan? Yeah it's gonna be a no from me then bro

Ain't no better way of stickin' it to the man than by avoiding any potential mutual likes, am I right? He also likes pizza, wine, religion, the Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings and oxygen; best throw those things out the house.