The Traitor's Sword

The Sangreal Trilogy #2

by Amanda Hemingway

Bartlemy Goodman is approximately 1500 years old. An albino of Greek parentage he was born in Byzantium amidst the decline of the Roman Empire and now resides in the village of Thornyhill, England with his dog, Hoover. Bartlemy is one of the Gifted. But long experience has taught him the perils of the power of the witch-kind and so throughout the ages has channelled his considerable talents into cooking, his culinary prowess becoming the stuff of legend: he worked for the Borgias, was among the first to discover chocolate and even taught the likes of Escoffier.


On a warm evening in 1991 a young homeless woman holding a baby turns up on Bartlemy's doorstep and he senses destiny at work. The woman's name is Annie Ward and her son, Nathan, is an exceptional child as Annie cannot account for his conception. Her husband Daniel died in a car accident so Nathan cannot be his. Soon Bartlemy comes to believe that the boy was created beyond the Gate of Death by a superior being for a special purpose - one that may threaten all of witch-kind - and that it is his job to protect him.


Whilst Nathan grows, strange occurrences begin to plague the village. The Thorn family, who gave their name to the village and have lived close by since pre-Christian times, were once the guardians of a strange cup of greenish stone, set with jewels. When it was sold to a Jewish collector in Austria by the black sheep of the family, who absconded with it in the 1920's, the family's fortune soon disappeared in turn. Rumoured to have been stolen by the Nazis during the war, it has now turned up at Sotheby's and Bartlemy joins his friend, Rowena Thorn, the last of the Thorns, who is determined to get it back by proving the original sale false. But the matter becomes complicated and sinister when Nathan discovers the body of the Austrian owner in the wood nearby and begins to experience disturbing visions involving the cup itself.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

500 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

She has also written under the pseudonyms of Jan Siegel, and Jemma Harvey.

Reviews

[Juan Sanmiguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book of The Sangreal Trilogy. Nathan must recover the second item, a sword. He has the found the location of it and a beautiful princess who's family the sword belongs too. Nathan's friend Hazel is using her gifts as a witch to make a boy fall for her. Nathan has to deal with a bully at school. Is there more to this bully than meets the eye. Is someone trying to steal the Grail from Uncle Bartlemy's house? Can Nathan's mother cope with the fact here son is in danger. Can Nathan recover the sword and help Princess Nell's family. This keeps the same energy in the first book. There is still reference to other works of fantasy and science fiction. There are some obvious set ups that will resolved in the last book.

[Silvio Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the trilogy continues much like the first - reasonably good plot along typical fantasy lines, dialogue that usually succeeds pleasantly at being witty, even though it sometimes seems unnatural in the more serious parts. The first book explained how an ancient magician in another universe made a cup, a sword, and a crown to serve in a spell whose cosmic power would one day be needed, and it seems each book will center around one of the three objects. This is the book where I started guessing what direction the series as a whole is heading, although if I'm right there are hints in The Greenstone Grail that a reader could have picked up on.

[JJ DeBenedictis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely book in this series. The writing continues to be strong, the characters charming, and the action quick. The story wasn't as full as the the previous or next book in the series, but it was still a solidly entertaining novel

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't at all impressed by this story. I didn't like any of the novels Hemingway wrote under the pseudonym Jan Siegel but I thought The Greenstone Grail was a promising start to this series. It was a promise that remained unfulfilled.

[Amanda R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous! I loved this one, couldn't put it down. Thought it was better than the first in the series and all the different sideplots were all intriguing. Can't wait to read the third!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual fantasy book, although still conforms to the 'young boy, some family issues, has very special talents, saves world/universe, etc', but the characters and writing was good.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the Greenstone Grail trilogy. The main character continues his mission. The story adds new characters and doesn't simply repeat what was in book one.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first one, and this sequel, but I thought the 3rd one was a weak ending for such a great buildup

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

average but enjoyable

[Shalini · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was really wise of Nathan for not saying he loves princess nell.

[SFReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.sfreader.com/review_redire...