The Fall

Medieval Knights #5

by Claudia Dain

A noble beauty and an errant knight engage in a sensual battle of wits against a backdrop of shiftng loyalties, betrayal, and intrigue where one false move can bring about their ruin. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Medieval, Romance, Historical

374 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2004

About the author

It was while writing a descriptive essay in seventh grade English (that was the assignment, to write a 'descriptive essay') that Claudia first fell in love. With descriptive essays. Boys being what they are in seventh grade, there was hardly much choice.
By her ninth grade year, Claudia was spending hours each week in her bedroom writing descriptive essays that heavily featured older boys (eleventh grade). She also practiced her kissing technique on a pole lamp next to her bed. It was less than satisfactory, but the writing was fun.

She attended the University of Southern California as an English major. She'd mastered kissing by this time and writing, strangely enough, was still fun. 'Strangely' because while it had become obvious to her that almost everyone enjoyed kissing, it was equally obvious that very few people enjoyed writing. This was as peculiar to her as, well, not enjoying kissing.

Clearly, something had to be done. The idea of combining kissing and writing seemed the obvious course of action. While Claudia does not claim to have invented the romance novel, she certainly has a lot of fun describing kisses and inventing men to bestow them upon. And not a one of her heroes looks remotely like a pole lamp. (And don't act like one either.)

Claudia was first published in 2000, is a two-time Rita finalist, and a USA Today Bestselling author. Which just goes to prove that you can make a career out of kissing and writing about it.

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this novel because it was the continuation of a character's story first introduced in Book 1, namely Ulrich, squire to Lord William and a man who had taken courtly flirting to a new and much talked-about level. Here he has now been a knight and on his own, a bastard, no property or living other than service to a liege lord or to the king, and thus he is now willing to take a whack at the legendary Lady Frost as she has come to be know. I have to say that I greatly enjoyed the other books in this series that I read, but I found this book to be a drag in so many ways--enough with the wagers, already. Everything was a wager, and the discussions of said wagers really became quite wearing. Julianne was very much a woman out of step with her times in that she had managed to secure a great deal of personal freedom for herself by perpetrating this "legend" about her coldness and its effect on prospective suitors. How it all worked out was not predictable, but it didn't light up my brain, either. I just found it to be an all-round disappointment, and I really hate to have to say that, because I really enjoy this author's style, her research that puts so much historical richness in her stories, and her ability to tell a good story that is apparent in her other work. I just didn't see much of that here.

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

#210 - 2024
Genre: Historical Romance, Medieval

[Sec2000 · Rating 1 out of 5]

yuck

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wtf

[Trudy Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julianne le Gel is called Lady of Frost because around her men could not rise; her legend has spread far and wide yet they still came hoping to break the curse. Ulrich of Caen is the latest to come to Stanora in the hope of making the Lady of Frost tumble to him and he has his reputation to back him up. With his knights who are his best friends and his squire, eight-year old William, they ask for entrance to Stanora. Philip, Julianne's father and keeper of the legend, eagerly grants permission and the game is on. As their dance/avoidance amuses and entertains the members of the castle, there are those who would see danger brought to Stanora. It was dangerous times in dangerous lands and the winner of this dance of love could face serious consequences.

I found the book to be entertaining although the constant wagering between the sisters grew tiresome. Trying to figure out just who was the traitor in the midst wasn't easy and it wasn't revealed until the end; if you thought one person was the bad guy, you found out he wasn't but another one was. When the truth about Julianne's legend was revealed it was rather shocking as well. William's parentage isn't what the reader thought all along either. All in all a good medieval romance.

[Deb Diem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall is my first book by Claudia Dain. The Fall is a well written book, very smooth reading. Juliane and Ulrich's story is loaded with drama, action, humor and very little sizzle. The characters are my favorite part of the book. Ms Dain has given us well developed characters that make this book a wonderful read. I enjoyed The Fall and look forward to reading more from Claudia Dain in the future. The Fall is book 5 in the Medieval Knights Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want 2 own

[Minna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Good writing but I guess I'm just not a medieval romance fan.

[Sonja Likness · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning, I was drawn in by the beautiful writing. As I read on, the theme and symbolism caught my attention. By the end of the book, I was completely invested in everything, including characters and plot. The story was beautiful, made all the more powerful by the writing. I don't have very many keepers, but this is one that's going to stay on my bookshelf, after I've loaned it out to everyone I know. I can't wait to share it with everyone!