Entries Tagged 'Medieval' ↓
March 6th, 2010 — 4 Stars, Another Planet/Dimension, Book Review, Fantasy, Foster/Orphan, Friends, J-L, Medieval, Regency, Revenge, Survival, Virgin Heroine, Warrior, Young Adult
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Choices Meant for Gods is a fantasy adventure romance, the first of three parts. Medieval overtones color the epic tale following a young twenty-year old heroine. Her name is Amanda Chariss. She has long auburn tresses, violet eyes, and holds the Geasa’n, the natural ability to perform magic. Chariss is an orphan, protected and raised by an old wizard named Hrazon.
For sixteen years, Hrazon and Chariss have been on the run from the sorcerer Jamieson Drake. Drake killed Chariss’ mother, Vertigo, and seeks to finish his revenge by obtaining her death as well. She does not trust stability in any form, for life has taught her it disappears in a blink of an eye. Hrazon has done his best to train his ward, but even a powerful wizard and protégé need help.
Meet Rothahn, the Master. He is the head god. His father before him selected Rothahn for the throne before moving aside. Rothahn however is far from holding ultimate power, a fact which annoys him as he thinks it would be useful… at least if only to kill off Godric, his daughter’s husband, and hid the blame.
Nigel, the twenty-eight year old man and our hero also holds the Geasa’n. He is Godric’s son, and Rothahn’s grandson. He, like Rothahn, holds no love for the man who sired him. Noble and kind, Nigel spends his time looking after his family and their holdings. When he meets our heroine for the first time he knows something is about to change in his life.
Julette is an evil goddess known as The Dragon. When her husband gave up the throne she was incensed that he would dare pass the power and glory to Rothahn. Was she not Queen? In league with Drake, Julette is determined to bring about a new world order that would have all mortals bow to her and pray for her deliverance.
Below are my two favorite passages between Chariss and Nigel as they discuss love:
“I fail to see how these simple things tell you you’re in love. Kaylin enjoys my company. Mia enjoys arguing with me. Master Rothahn says I’m compassionate to a fault. I saved Sorne’s life once. Jake told me I’m beautiful. Does this mean they’re all in love with me?”
“If love could be explained that easily, it wouldn’t be real.”
…
“Nigel, let me give you some advice. You don’t want to marry for love because people fall out of love, and then there’s nothing left between them.”
He stared at her in shock. “I believe that’s the most cynical statement I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Watch him break down her walls... sigh.
Rating: 4 Stars
Choices Meant for Gods
Originally posted 2009-06-16 03:43:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 22nd, 2010 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Cursed Lead, Great Britain, Knight, Magic Users, Medieval, Warrior
The story of Gawain and Aislyn is one told before in the Canterbury Tales (The Wife of Bath's Tale) under different names. Gwen Rowley remakes it in Knights of the Round Table: Gawain. Where the original had the knight rape a lovely young maiden and sentenced before King Arthur and Guinevere into solving a riddle about what women really want or meet his death, this tale is more humorous and full circle. I laughed out loud several times while reading this novel.
It starts with King Arthur and Sir Gawain riding to the King’s certain death. Having been bested a year ago by a young knight from another court, Arthur was deeded the task to find out what women truly desire. A whole year and a book full of answers that contradicted each other later, there was no hope for King Arthur. Gawain is determined to see his uncle survive this second meeting with the knight.
An old crone comes across their path and offers the answer for a price… Gawain must marry her, if her answer is deemed correct. He accepts much to King Arthur’s dismay and her answer turns out valid. Gawain marries the hideous crone and endures ridicule, scorn, shame, and more at her hands and by his fellow courtiers. But the crone makes him laugh, something he’s not done in the five years since Aislyn’s death.
Aislyn is determined to teach Sir Gawain a lesson. He left her five years ago in anger after she’d bared her heart and soul to him. Sir Gawain knew nothing of love and his contempt of women was widely known. She would have given King Arthur the answer freely, but then the idea of punishing the feckless and faithless Gawain was too irresistible to pass up. She wasn’t marrying him because he still could make her heart leap at the sight of him… that would be unwise, after all he had turned on her, he would do so again.
Unfortunately for her, Aislyn is stuck in her crone form by Gawain’s aunt at court and she can not speak of her true identity. Only a kiss born of love and received in love would break the enchantment even partially. One kiss and she could be young and beautiful for half of the day, her punishment for the cruelty she subjected upon Gawain. But half a day could be enough to last a lifetime, if she could conjure up the courage to stay.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy: Knights of the Round Table: Gawain
Originally posted 2008-12-08 20:04:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 8th, 2010 — 1 Star, A-C, ARC, Gentry, Great Britain, Medieval, Musician, Older Woman/Younger Man, Prostitute, Rape/Abuse, Scarred Hero, Secret Agent, Survival, Widow or Widower, Working with Land
I had a hard time getting through this novel. Not only is Widow’s Peak very unbelievable, but the writing is not engaging. Both of these problems could have been ignored if the sexual interaction between the main characters was hot. It wasn't.
Here is what I had issues with:
Lady Amye de Barnard doesn’t act like a medieval lady. She acts like the lowest of chambermaids or servants, doing jobs and taking care of things that should have been delegated.
First, she washes Laine’s body, stitches him up, and tends to him herself during his recovery. As a lady this would never happen. When he’s awake and on the mend, she washes him like a baby and the blanket is the only nod towards modesty.
Amye is a very modern woman in a time when it’s just not possible. She rides astride. She pays the king a tax to stay unmarried. Her late husband was way too forward thinking for the time period. He got the king to sign a contract to allow Amye to be the land holder and owner of their fiefdom. She too is overly forward thinking when it comes to the vassals, serfs, and servants. I have a hard time believing the men surrounding her would not try to advise her or take control away.
She also is still completely in love with her late husband. Thomas is mentioned way too often. There's no way. Besides that every mention shows how wonderful Thomas was to her, to their people, to the land, in bed, as a husband, as a lover, as a teacher, as a friend, and on and on.
As for the sex, here are a very few examples:
- Let her lips roam to his pouch sucked one of his round balls.
- I found it hard to believe she was "tight as the virgins he was given" after 7 childbirths. Come on - really? Really? REALLY?
- The anal sex with soap (I’m assuming its lye base considering the time period). Can we say, burning? Lye is corrosive and will degrade organic tissue.
Laine as a hero also had problems. He was a terrible troubadour. He was a prostitute turned assassin. As an assassin, I have my doubts. He becomes injured by fighting in the trees (of all places how did the fight happen in the trees—how did they both get up there?) then as the two are fighting and falling from the branches he manages to get on top and survive.
Rating: 1 Star
Buy: Widow's Peak
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November 25th, 2009 — Book Intro, Guest Blogger, J-L, Medieval, Paranormal
by Ryshia Kennie, guest blogger and author of Ring of Desire.
Ring of Desire
, my paranormal set in medieval times, was released just last week. Medieval times, dark and brooding, the perfect breeding spot for magic. Even so, I had no thought of writing a paranormal, medieval or contemporary. I started out to write a historical but this was the story that threw me the curve.
1072 England - I researched politics, dress, speech and customs and loved every minute of it. So, with a medieval background firmly in my mind, a hero begging to leap into action and an opening scene ready to go, I began to write. And that is when everything changed. Someone was whispering in the background.
“The One. The One,” they whispered every time my beleaguered hero made an appearance. It was unexpected and I think it was the era that attracted that paranormal element. Unlike contemporary times with our modern conveniences and streamlined buildings, when I imagine the medieval times, I see a place rife with paranormal from runes and spells, to magicians. An incredible breeding ground to lay that magical seed and voila subconsciously I did!
Even in the opening scene as my hero, Giles, rescued Vala from a watery death, there was the whispering and hints of something else. I was as baffled as Giles and writing stopped for a bit as the plot had to be reworked to accommodate what was obviously a hint of magic.
It was more than a hint of magic. Ring of Desire took me totally by surprise from its final name to the outcome of the story. It was one of my favorite stories to write.
Buy: Ring of Desire (Paperback)
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October 20th, 2009 — Author Interviews, G-I, Great Britain, Kings, Princes, Sheiks, Chiefs, Medieval, Queen or Princess
Hello Keira – thanks for welcoming me to your Blog!
Keira: How has Gwenhwyfar and Arthur's love evolved from what it was in The Kingmaking to Pendragon's Banner?
Helen Hollick: Things have moved on from the close of The Kingmaking. Gwenhwyfar now has one young son and is expecting another child. Arthur is attempting to consolidate his victories by making peace with the Anglo Saxon English – but not everyone agrees with his ideas, not even Gwenhwyfar. When he insists she goes with him to visit an English settlement she is horrified. Not only is she frightened by not knowing these people, or their customs and traditions, she is about to have her baby.
The relationship between her and Arthur is pushed to the limit – and beyond – in this middle part of the trilogy. Tragedy can either draw a couple together or rip them apart….
Be warned, a box of tissues may be needed!
Keira: What are some challenges that will be put to them to challenge the strength of that love?
Helen Hollick: There are quite a few, some of them tragic, some of them frustrating, some downright infuriating. But sorry I’m not telling you about them as it will spoil the read!
Keira: Arthur is now King – what challenges will he face in Pendragon's Banner? How does he hope to overcome them? How must he change?
Helen Hollick: Arthur’s goal is to unite his Kingdom and bring peace. It is an uphill struggle for him though, as other people seem set on stopping him. Even Gwenhwyfar….
Keira: Arthur’s stubbornness and Gwenhwyfar's temper are sure to cause problems. Outside of their relationship, how do their flaws affect life at court, politics, and situations?
Helen Hollick: There are quite a few exchanges of stubbornness and temper in this one. Arthur is single minded – he knows what he wants and is determined to get it, but members of his Council, especially his uncle, Ambrosius Aurelianus are equally as determined to stop him, which heads disastrously towards what could be an end of the Kingdom and peace.
We find out a lot more about Morgause in Pendragon’s Banner as well – and her daughter, Morgainne, the lady of the Lake. Arthur meets her and the inevitable happens. There are a few scenes where Arthur should have kept his breeches fastened – no doubt Gwenhwyfar feels the same!
Winifred, Arthur’s first wife also has her fingers dabbling in several pies. She wants her son to be the next King.
Gwenhwyfar has her own distractions. Her children, her worry and concern for Arthur – her jealousy of his other women. But then, she has a few male friends too. Friends who spark Arthur’s retaliatory jealousy.
There are several scenes in Pendragon’s Banner that draw from the early Welsh stories of Arthur, you may recognize a few or them. Weaving them into my novel in a plausible and practical way was my own challenge.
Keira: Why do you think people are drawn to King Arthur's story? To Medieval stories?
Helen Hollick: I think people enjoy the familiar Medieval tales of Arthur and the round table, Holy Grail and knights in armour because they conjure up a long-gone era of courtly love, honour, respect and Doing Noble Deeds. The whole chivalric image that brings out our romantic emotions.
But my Arthur is not from those stories. My Arthur is a rough, tough, down-to-earth war lord and soldier. The sort of man who can be an utter b*****d – but will fight to the death to protect you, and will always be there when you need him.
The figure of Arthur, in legend and fiction is one of the most enigmatic and intriguing of all the characters of English history and literature. What is it about him that makes people discuss him, read about him, write about him?
Google for King Arthur, and you will spend weeks going through the links. There are discussion boards, forums, facebook profiles, blog pages, myspace sites. He is there in virtually every genre of fiction, from fantasy to thrillers. There are movies of Arthur, poems about Arthur, plays centred around Arthur – you name it its been done.
People argue about whether he lived in the Iron Age, Roman period, Dark Ages or the 11th Century, the 12th, 13th…..
He was a local warlord in the north of Britain. He fought in Scotland, Wales, Brittany or came from the West Country – Cornwall, Somerset. He is the King of myth and fantasy. Magic and mystery surround Arthur and his deeds.
Was he from the realm of Magic – or was he a real man, a soldier who led a war band into battle? The sad fact is - there is not a shred of evidence to prove he actually existed!
For the truth about Arthur there are no answers.
And it is that which makes him so fascinating, why again and again we write about him, read about him.
I fell in love with Arthur while I was writing the Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy. I intimately knew that man for more than 13 years while writing the Trilogy – it took a long, long while to get him out of my system and move on to creating my next main character (Harold Godwineson in Harold the King. – also to be published soon by Sourcebooks Inc)
But that feeling is not unique to me.
I wrote to the wonderful author Rosemary Sutcliff just before she died. I had completed The Kingmaking, but it was still in the process of being made ready to be published, so I could not send her a copy. I told her all about it though, and my ideas of Arthur. I received back a handwritten letter (complete with her cartoon motif of a dolphin attached to the last ‘f’ of her signature.) She confided that after she had written her novel about Arthur, Sword At Sunset, she had not been able to get him out of her mind for at least six months.
I know what she meant…. And that is why Arthur is so popular. His spirit, his charisma, his presence goes on, living for ever.
No wonder the legends state that he will come again when he is needed. He never left. He is always here, dwelling in the minds of his loyal subjects, those of us who read and write about him!
Helen Hollick
Main Website: www.helenhollick.net
Blog profiles: www.acorne.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Monthly Journal: www.helenhollick.net/journal.html
Follow Publicist Paul on Twitter: @psamuelson01
http://www.helenhollick.net/culpa41.html my own hints and tips for aspiring writers.
Buy: Pendragon's Banner: Book Two
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October 15th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, ARC, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, J-L, Knight, Medieval, Rape/Abuse, Scarred Hero, Science, Time Travel, United States of America
by Susan Sigler, guest reviewer
Wish for the Moon is a beautiful story with elements comparable to Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe, complete with medieval knights and tournaments.
Jones’s story contains medieval and feudal terms, which left me feeling a bit confounded for the first half of the story. I found myself resorting to a list of medieval terminology which I printed from the internet. For the second half of the read, I applied my own inferences and conjectures deciding to forego my list altogether.
As a result, there is an adjustment period for modern readers. Some terms you’ll find within the book are: atavistic, barbican, bread trenchers, garderobe, hauberk, I trow, supercilious, God’s teeth, for certes, and cantankerous.
I found myself empathizing more with a secondary character, rather than the main characters. I found (Giles) both earl and brother to our hero (Matthias) quite refreshing. I enjoyed Gile’s character very much. He is honest and forthcoming, whereas Matthias is dishonest and unforthcoming. They are at odds, and their brotherly dynamics are at the heart of this plot.
The setting where most of our story unfolds, takes place inside a castle during the Middle Ages.
Caroline Greer (heroine) will travel alone from South Carolina in the states, to Wales in the U.K. She visits Matthias Thorne, a professor of medieval studies at Cardiff University. Matthias may have knowledge of a plant, known for its abilities to help inhibit seizures. This is critical to Caroline who’s not only an herbalist, but suffers from epileptic seizures.
When Matthias turns her away refusing to help, Carrie must take matters into her own hands.
In his attempt to stop her from uncovering a dark truth, they will travel back in time into the Middle Ages.
Once there, they will encounter a terrible betrayal, lies, and deceit. When the truth is revealed, will Carrie and Matthias have enough trust in themselves to forge a life together? Or will the betrayal be too painful to overcome.
Wish for the Moon is book one of Circle of Destiny, which leads me to surmise, it may very well be part of a trilogy.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Time Travel Romance, eBook, The Wild Rose Press, Copyright 2008, 375 pages.
ISBN# 1-60154-554-1
Buy: Wish for the Moon
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September 21st, 2009 — A-C, Guest Blogger, Knight, Medieval
by Elizabeth Chadwick, guest blogger and author of The Greatest Knight
I’d like to say many thanks for inviting me to be your guest blogger. I’m really pleased to be here!
Whenever I go out on the road and give talks about historical fiction, certain questions are asked on a regular basis, so I thought I’d write my own Q and A session!
Q. Have you always written?
A. I have been telling myself stories verbally since I can remember but I only started writing them down from being fourteen when I was inspired by a TV drama about the Tudors. I wrote an entire 500 page novel longhand and realised in the writing that it was what I wanted to do for a living.
Q. Did it take you a long time to find a publisher?
A. I plucked up the courage to send my first attempt out when I was 17. It was returned to me with a “thanks but no thanks,” but I wasn’t put off. It was part of who I was and whether I was published or not, I was still going to carry on writing. Throughout the rest of my teens and twenties, I continued to write novels, send them off and have them rejected, but I persevered. If you really want something, you don’t give up that easily. I finally got the call in my early thirties as a stay at home mother with two small children. I had my desk in their playroom and used to sneak moments to write in between looking after my boys.
Q. How long does it take you to write a novel?
A. My contracts are fifteen months. This gives me time to research the books, write them, and also do all the extra bits and pieces that are part of a writer’s career these days such as websites, Facebook, Twitter and of course guest blog posts! It also gives me time for my family and for going out on tour to meet the readers in person.
Q. What’s a typical working day?
A. Well I don’t rise at the crack of dawn unless forced. 8.30 to 9am feels about right. While drinking the morning mug of tea, I’ll check the morning’s e-mails, Facebook and Twitter to see what’s come in overnight. I’ll answer the most pressing ones and sort the others into ‘to deal with’ and ‘delete’. Around 10am I’ll start writing. I take a coffee break and check the e-mails again after a couple of hours. Then more writing up to late lunch about 2pm. Back to the writing unless I have to do domestic stuff such as the grocery shop or get my hair cut etc. I break off between 5 and 8 for family time, and then it’s back to work. When writing a first draft I aim for 1500 words a day. Once I finish my word count, it’s on to blogging, networking and answering reader e-mails. Then to bed with a book around 1am and read until around 2. I definitely work better at night!
Q. What attracted you to write about the Middle Ages and what led you to William Marshal, star of The Greatest Knight?
A. After I’d written my Tudor story, I fell in love with a knight on a children’s TV programme called Thibaud, le Chevalier Blanc, and he set me to writing my own medieval story. I knew nothing about the Medieval times when I set out to write my story, so I had to start researching and the more I researched, the more interested I became in the period and the more I wanted to write about it. I came across William Marshal whilst researching one of my earlier novels and realised that his story simply had to be told. What a man! The fourth son of a minor baron who became a champion jouster, married a great heiress, and went on one day not only to rule England, but to save the country from disaster. He outlived four kings in his lifetime. The Greatest Knight covers the first part of his life story. A second stand alone novel, The Scarlet Lion, covers his struggles with the ever notoriouis King John.
Q.Would you like to have lived in those times?
A. I would absolutely love to go back for annual holidays and in different seasons to see what it was like, but I am afraid I am too much a creature of the 21st century. I think we give Medieval folk far less credit than is their due for their skill and resilience, and some of the beautiful things they crafted such as textiles and leatherwork, but I also know that I would miss flushing toilets, hot water at the turn of a tap….and chocolate. Especially chocolate. William Marshal was known to love his food, but also be discerning about it. I wonder what he would think if handed a bar of chocolate to try!
About the Author
Elizabeth Chadwick lives near Nottingham with her husband and two sons. She is the author of 17 historical novels, including Lords of the White Castle, Shadows and Strongholds, A Place Beyond Courage, The Scarlet Lion, the Winter Mantle, and the Falcons of Montebard, four of which have been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Awards. Much of her research is carried out as a member of Regia Anglorum, an early medieval re-enactment society with the emphasis on accurately re-creating the past. She won a Betty Trask Award for The Wild Hunt, her first novel.
Buy: The Greatest Knight
Giveaway: Elizabeth Chadwick and Sourcebooks are sponsoring a giveaway of 1 copy of The Greatest Knight for US and Canada only readers. Enter by leaving relevant comments. One entry per comment; multiple entries allowed. Ends: September 28th, 2009.
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May 22nd, 2009 — 2 Stars, Book Review, Category, Gentry, Great Britain, Headaches, J-L, Kidnapping, Marriage of Convenience, Medieval, Scarred Hero, Secret Agent, Virgin Heroine, Warrior
This book read a little slow for me and the storytelling didn't capture me particularly. I read through perseverance more than any real desire to finish.
I like the Medieval period but I would never go back to that time period. As Lynn points out, it's not safe for a woman outside of the walls of a palace or castle or keep. Sometimes, even then it's not a guarantee as Lady Sarah of Remy learned.
At a young age, Sarah's father left her under Queen Eleanor's care. He left her without any wealth to call her own and more importantly without lands. Completely at the Queen's mercy, Sarah grew up thinking she was quite blessed... until the Queen began her demands in return for all she'd done for Sarah.
Branded as the Queen's whore, Sarah is used to the way the other women treat her at court. She spies for the Queen without complaint, hoping one day the Queen will fulfill her promise and marry her off to a titled nobleman. That hoped is crushed when the Queen commands Sarah to wed William of Bronwyn.
William looks like a fierce and unloving man. His muscles bulge and his scowl is harsh, not to mention his reputation... why he is everything Sarah fears. But reputations can be deceiving as both William and Sarah both will learn.
Rating: 2 Stars
Buy: Bedded by the Warrior
Buy on eHarlequin: Bedded by the Warrior
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