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The Watchmen Saga #2
The Sword of the Maiden
The Sword of the Maiden is Book 2 in The Watchmen Saga, which begins with Book 1: The Keys of the Watchmen.
After being abruptly separated from Nicolas le Breton during the battle to save Mont Saint Michel from the English siege in 1424, Katelyn Michaels finds herself back in her normal twenty-first century life as an American teenager. Depressed and anxious to be reunited with Nicolas, she is comforted when a series of events and impressions lead her to believe she is being prepared for another mission as a Watchman.
After her beloved mentor, Jean le Vieux, comes to her in a dream and gives her the injunction to “Learn of the Maiden and take her the sword,” Katelyn understands that her mission involves assisting one of the most iconic figures in all of French History.
Katelyn is once again whisked back to the turmoil of medieval France during the Hundred Years’ War and to Nicolas. However, before the two can consider the future of their relationship, they must first complete their mission to take the sword to the Maiden. Little do they know that their old nemesis, Abdon, is already on their trail and will do everything in his unhallowed power to stop them.
After being abruptly separated from Nicolas le Breton during the battle to save Mont Saint Michel from the English siege in 1424, Katelyn Michaels finds herself back in her normal twenty-first century life as an American teenager. Depressed and anxious to be reunited with Nicolas, she is comforted when a series of events and impressions lead her to believe she is being prepared for another mission as a Watchman.
After her beloved mentor, Jean le Vieux, comes to her in a dream and gives her the injunction to “Learn of the Maiden and take her the sword,” Katelyn understands that her mission involves assisting one of the most iconic figures in all of French History.
Katelyn is once again whisked back to the turmoil of medieval France during the Hundred Years’ War and to Nicolas. However, before the two can consider the future of their relationship, they must first complete their mission to take the sword to the Maiden. Little do they know that their old nemesis, Abdon, is already on their trail and will do everything in his unhallowed power to stop them.
540 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2015
34 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen C. Perrin
7 books84 followersKathleen C. Perrin graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University with Bachelor's degrees in both French and Humanities. She is a French-to-English translator certified by the American Translators' Association, and is also an accomplished pianist and a music arranger/composer. While completing her education, Kathleen met a dashing young Frenchman, who later became her husband and greatly influenced her world view.
Kathleen has lived in Utah, New York City, France, and for eight years in French Polynesia (Tahiti) with her husband and children. While living in Tahiti she became a master scuba diver, swam with sharks, and even came to the rescue of a stranded Korean fishing vessel with her diving skills! She has worked professionally as a language and music teacher, translator, interpreter and writer. She enjoys writing poetry, and she has published several non-fiction articles, academic papers, and a religious history about Tahiti. Because of her expertise in French Polynesia, she has been invited to present lectures in Tahiti, Hawaii, and Utah at historical conferences and symposiums. She has also been a featured speaker on a variety of topics to youth and adult groups, including at an International Women's Conference sponsored by Brigham Young University.
Learning about new countries and cultures is a passion for Kathleen, and she has traveled extensively throughout North and South America, Oceania, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Africa, India, the Middle East and the Caucasus Region. She has visited over fifty countries, but her favorite place of all is France where she and her husband own a renovated family cottage. They have spent years exploring France's beauties and discovering its mysteries, even taking groups of tourists there for a ten-year period. Her latest passion is sharing France through her historical suspense fiction. Her experience as a tour guide at Mont Saint Michel inspired her to write her historical paranormal three-part series, THE WATCHMEN SAGA. All three books are now available: THE KEYS OF THE WATCHMEN (Book 1), THE SWORD OF THE MAIDEN (Book 2). and THE SECRET OF THE ABBEY (Book 3).
The Perrins have three children, and currently divide their time between Utah and France.
Kathleen has lived in Utah, New York City, France, and for eight years in French Polynesia (Tahiti) with her husband and children. While living in Tahiti she became a master scuba diver, swam with sharks, and even came to the rescue of a stranded Korean fishing vessel with her diving skills! She has worked professionally as a language and music teacher, translator, interpreter and writer. She enjoys writing poetry, and she has published several non-fiction articles, academic papers, and a religious history about Tahiti. Because of her expertise in French Polynesia, she has been invited to present lectures in Tahiti, Hawaii, and Utah at historical conferences and symposiums. She has also been a featured speaker on a variety of topics to youth and adult groups, including at an International Women's Conference sponsored by Brigham Young University.
Learning about new countries and cultures is a passion for Kathleen, and she has traveled extensively throughout North and South America, Oceania, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Africa, India, the Middle East and the Caucasus Region. She has visited over fifty countries, but her favorite place of all is France where she and her husband own a renovated family cottage. They have spent years exploring France's beauties and discovering its mysteries, even taking groups of tourists there for a ten-year period. Her latest passion is sharing France through her historical suspense fiction. Her experience as a tour guide at Mont Saint Michel inspired her to write her historical paranormal three-part series, THE WATCHMEN SAGA. All three books are now available: THE KEYS OF THE WATCHMEN (Book 1), THE SWORD OF THE MAIDEN (Book 2). and THE SECRET OF THE ABBEY (Book 3).
The Perrins have three children, and currently divide their time between Utah and France.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 8, 2016
A solid 4.5 stars.
A great sequel to the first book “The Key’s of the Watchman.” All the characters are back (except I wish there was more of Jackson. His intellectual side was really great in the first one!). And all I can say is there better be a third one, I need more Katelyn and Nicolas!
What makes this book so great? The character development continues, and the story is not only a continuation of the first one, it just enhances the first. I never felt bored or “yep, read this in the first one”. I liked reading about Katelyn’s confidence in herself and how she uses her power and knowledge for good.
This book made me want to not only visit France, but learn more about Jehanne, Joan of Arc. It really brought her to life in my mind and showed how much she influenced France and the world. She believed in herself and she believed in those around her and above her to help. Her moments of doubt showed more courage and bravery and was really inspiring to act with confidence when you know what is right!
There’s lots of references to current pop-culture. It’s funny and keeps the book modern.
Favorite quotes from the book:
Chapter 1- “I’ve figured out that harboring bitterness isn’t going to solve anything. It will just make me a miserable person.” –Katelyn Michaels
Chapter 3- I could feel the caring emanating from him. I had known Jean for such a short time, and yet his love was all-encompassing. It gave me an instant understanding of the love God feels for all His children. That love filled the crevices of hurt that had opened up in my heart. It filled the spaces of doubt and discouragement that had been drilled into my mind, and it soothed the constant pain of my knitting bones and healing skin.” –Katelyn Michaels
Chapter 14- “True happiness doesn’t come from stuff. It doesn’t even come from having a toilet and a hot shower. No, happiness comes from others. It comes from positive relationships, from having a sense of purpose and from serving others.
Chapter 17- It’s more than I dreamed of, beyond anything I could’ve imagined. It’s magic and wonder and safety. It’s comfort and love in a form I’ve never before experienced. It’s like coming home after being lost, like drinking in the water of life after nearly dying of thirst. It’s the purest form of total devotion I’ve ever experienced.
Chapter 26- It’s from Nelson Mandela. He said , “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Chapter 30- “Jeanne, “ I begin, “if you want to have a certain quality, you must act as if you already have that quality.”
I truly believe it . Remember, Jehanne, you have been called by God to serve Him. He has complete and total confidence in you. He sees something deep within you that you cannot even see in yourself. And I promise you that if you continue to act as if you have that confidence, soon that quality will actually be yours. Soon, you will truly have that attribute.”
A great sequel to the first book “The Key’s of the Watchman.” All the characters are back (except I wish there was more of Jackson. His intellectual side was really great in the first one!). And all I can say is there better be a third one, I need more Katelyn and Nicolas!
What makes this book so great? The character development continues, and the story is not only a continuation of the first one, it just enhances the first. I never felt bored or “yep, read this in the first one”. I liked reading about Katelyn’s confidence in herself and how she uses her power and knowledge for good.
This book made me want to not only visit France, but learn more about Jehanne, Joan of Arc. It really brought her to life in my mind and showed how much she influenced France and the world. She believed in herself and she believed in those around her and above her to help. Her moments of doubt showed more courage and bravery and was really inspiring to act with confidence when you know what is right!
There’s lots of references to current pop-culture. It’s funny and keeps the book modern.
Favorite quotes from the book:
Chapter 1- “I’ve figured out that harboring bitterness isn’t going to solve anything. It will just make me a miserable person.” –Katelyn Michaels
Chapter 3- I could feel the caring emanating from him. I had known Jean for such a short time, and yet his love was all-encompassing. It gave me an instant understanding of the love God feels for all His children. That love filled the crevices of hurt that had opened up in my heart. It filled the spaces of doubt and discouragement that had been drilled into my mind, and it soothed the constant pain of my knitting bones and healing skin.” –Katelyn Michaels
Chapter 14- “True happiness doesn’t come from stuff. It doesn’t even come from having a toilet and a hot shower. No, happiness comes from others. It comes from positive relationships, from having a sense of purpose and from serving others.
Chapter 17- It’s more than I dreamed of, beyond anything I could’ve imagined. It’s magic and wonder and safety. It’s comfort and love in a form I’ve never before experienced. It’s like coming home after being lost, like drinking in the water of life after nearly dying of thirst. It’s the purest form of total devotion I’ve ever experienced.
Chapter 26- It’s from Nelson Mandela. He said , “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Chapter 30- “Jeanne, “ I begin, “if you want to have a certain quality, you must act as if you already have that quality.”
I truly believe it . Remember, Jehanne, you have been called by God to serve Him. He has complete and total confidence in you. He sees something deep within you that you cannot even see in yourself. And I promise you that if you continue to act as if you have that confidence, soon that quality will actually be yours. Soon, you will truly have that attribute.”
May 20, 2016
Last year I have read and loved the first book of this series, I could not wait to read what would happen to Katelyn and Nicolas. This romance is charming, brilliant and exciting as the first one.
Katelyn has returned to live in her century and is back home in the United States. But she is no longer the naive girl than a few months before. She is now a guardian and must guarantee the security and peace of Moint -Saint-Michel, helping to prevent it from being destroyed by English during the Hundred Years War. Above all she met her great love Nicolas and so much missing him, can't live without him. One night in a dream she receives her next mission. Shee must deliver a sword to a very special girl, Joan of Arc. Shee studies French history, learns to fence and climbs on the rocks. When she feels ready just she has to go back to France and make a new time travel.
The character of Katelyn is very developed compared to the first book, she is more self-confident, more determined, more mature and has become aware of her role as guardian.
This book has everything one could possibly want: wonderful setting, time travel, a romantic love story, action, adventure, twists, many accurate historical references and a great character like Joan of Arc. I like the style of this author, is very simple but brilliant, her descriptions are really engaging that seems to live there with the characters. The historical reconstruction is very accurate, it is clear that she has carefully studied and has done a lot of research.
I can not wait to read the third episode.
For those who love historical fiction with adventure and fantasy this is a must read, you will not be disappointed
Katelyn has returned to live in her century and is back home in the United States. But she is no longer the naive girl than a few months before. She is now a guardian and must guarantee the security and peace of Moint -Saint-Michel, helping to prevent it from being destroyed by English during the Hundred Years War. Above all she met her great love Nicolas and so much missing him, can't live without him. One night in a dream she receives her next mission. Shee must deliver a sword to a very special girl, Joan of Arc. Shee studies French history, learns to fence and climbs on the rocks. When she feels ready just she has to go back to France and make a new time travel.
The character of Katelyn is very developed compared to the first book, she is more self-confident, more determined, more mature and has become aware of her role as guardian.
This book has everything one could possibly want: wonderful setting, time travel, a romantic love story, action, adventure, twists, many accurate historical references and a great character like Joan of Arc. I like the style of this author, is very simple but brilliant, her descriptions are really engaging that seems to live there with the characters. The historical reconstruction is very accurate, it is clear that she has carefully studied and has done a lot of research.
I can not wait to read the third episode.
For those who love historical fiction with adventure and fantasy this is a must read, you will not be disappointed
August 7, 2018
This is the second book in the series. (I have not read the third book yet though it is out). I loved this one at least as much as the first. It was slightly different though because it's not all about Mont St. Michel but about all of France and a very important figure in French History. That part I really liked. I didn't know as much about it before reading this book and although I know it is still historical fiction I know the author has done her research and I still learned many facts I did not know previously.
I had mixed feelings about the end. But it's just the second book so I completely understood but I was a tad upset that the third book wasn't out yet because I want to see how things work out (I'm mainly talking about the romance part). I want things to end happy but am not even sure how I would write an acceptable ending by my standards, so my mixed feelings with this book mostly have to do with really enjoyed it but anxious to see how things end.
I had mixed feelings about the end. But it's just the second book so I completely understood but I was a tad upset that the third book wasn't out yet because I want to see how things work out (I'm mainly talking about the romance part). I want things to end happy but am not even sure how I would write an acceptable ending by my standards, so my mixed feelings with this book mostly have to do with really enjoyed it but anxious to see how things end.
March 24, 2016
Joan of Arc The Sword of the Maiden takes place where The Keys of the Watchmen left off, where Katelyn Michaels visited Mont Saint Michel with her brother. They were there to visit their father and his new bride. A strange encounter at the abbey whisks them back to the medieval time, where she finds out she is a Watchman.
In The Sword of the Maiden, Katelyn is recovering from her injuries and getting on with her life. She misses her husband Nicholas le Bretonand knows that she will soon have to undertake a new mission. In a dream, a man from the past tells her it is her duty to find the sword and give it to the "maiden" so that Mont Saint Michel is saved. She needs to go back in time again so off to France she goes to be reunited with Nicholas and to learn more about her mission.
The Hundred Years war was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of England and against the House of Valois, rulers of France. Jehanne (Joan of Arc) is known as the Maid of Orleans, who was raised in the village of Donremy in what was then in the northeastern part of France. The sword that Katelyn is to find is also the sword that she needs to take to Jehanne. Jehanne gets "visions" of Saint Margaret, Saint Catherine and Archangel Michael telling her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination. We all know of the fate of Joan of Arc so I won't say anymore. Katelyn and Nicolas's mission is fraught with danger from one of their enemies, Abdon, a supernatural being bent on stopping Katelyn and Nicolas from completing their mission.
This book is very well researched, the reader gets a glimpse into medieval France during a turbulent time in history. I learned quite a bit more about The Hundred Years War and it was actually a fascinating time in history. This book, even with all of the history in it, was easy to read. I love time travel stories and this one was very good, poignant but triumphant as well. Can history be changed? Probably not but it is worth thinking about. I enjoyed it very much and I look forward to reading The Watchmen Saga, the third and last in the series.
In The Sword of the Maiden, Katelyn is recovering from her injuries and getting on with her life. She misses her husband Nicholas le Bretonand knows that she will soon have to undertake a new mission. In a dream, a man from the past tells her it is her duty to find the sword and give it to the "maiden" so that Mont Saint Michel is saved. She needs to go back in time again so off to France she goes to be reunited with Nicholas and to learn more about her mission.
The Hundred Years war was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of England and against the House of Valois, rulers of France. Jehanne (Joan of Arc) is known as the Maid of Orleans, who was raised in the village of Donremy in what was then in the northeastern part of France. The sword that Katelyn is to find is also the sword that she needs to take to Jehanne. Jehanne gets "visions" of Saint Margaret, Saint Catherine and Archangel Michael telling her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination. We all know of the fate of Joan of Arc so I won't say anymore. Katelyn and Nicolas's mission is fraught with danger from one of their enemies, Abdon, a supernatural being bent on stopping Katelyn and Nicolas from completing their mission.
This book is very well researched, the reader gets a glimpse into medieval France during a turbulent time in history. I learned quite a bit more about The Hundred Years War and it was actually a fascinating time in history. This book, even with all of the history in it, was easy to read. I love time travel stories and this one was very good, poignant but triumphant as well. Can history be changed? Probably not but it is worth thinking about. I enjoyed it very much and I look forward to reading The Watchmen Saga, the third and last in the series.
March 26, 2016
VERDICT: Powerful and suspenseful historical novel on an essential page of French history. Great mix of information and modern technology at the service of Medieval history. When time travel gets really smart and irresistible!
My full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2016/03/26/b...
My full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2016/03/26/b...
December 7, 2015
A gem of a book with wonderful characters. I loved getting a glimpse into the life of one of history's most incredible heroines. A page turner full of historically accurate events.
February 15, 2018
This is an exceptional novel!
Like with the first novel, this one does not disappoint. I can’t express how much I enjoyed this story. Just know it left me with a deep ache because I had been so immersed in the story, once it was over, I was left empty. I will most definitely need to read the next one for more Katelyn and Nicolas.
As with the first story, and even more so in this one, the reader is immersed in deep history. Many passages are so long and heavy, I did skim over them. But whenever action happened, I was sure not to miss it. I was moved extremely by Katelyn’s plight. And poor Nicolas! It’s amazing how the author invented the fictional story to go along with the real adventures of Joan of Arc. And I was intrigued by the author’s descriptions of Katelyn’s technology use in the past and how she made everything work while keeping her secret of being from the future.
Reader Rated for ages 14+ for mild torture and mild violence.
Like with the first novel, this one does not disappoint. I can’t express how much I enjoyed this story. Just know it left me with a deep ache because I had been so immersed in the story, once it was over, I was left empty. I will most definitely need to read the next one for more Katelyn and Nicolas.
As with the first story, and even more so in this one, the reader is immersed in deep history. Many passages are so long and heavy, I did skim over them. But whenever action happened, I was sure not to miss it. I was moved extremely by Katelyn’s plight. And poor Nicolas! It’s amazing how the author invented the fictional story to go along with the real adventures of Joan of Arc. And I was intrigued by the author’s descriptions of Katelyn’s technology use in the past and how she made everything work while keeping her secret of being from the future.
Reader Rated for ages 14+ for mild torture and mild violence.
June 22, 2017
A Second Intriguing Novel
The good thing about having just now finished The Sword of the Maiden is not having to endure a suspenseful wait for the next book, since it was just published. As with the first book in the saga, historical detail is masterfully woven int o the intriguing storyline. The book was intensely interesting from beginning to end. The sword fight provided an exciting climactic point! It felt very real! On to "The Secret of the Abbey."
The good thing about having just now finished The Sword of the Maiden is not having to endure a suspenseful wait for the next book, since it was just published. As with the first book in the saga, historical detail is masterfully woven int o the intriguing storyline. The book was intensely interesting from beginning to end. The sword fight provided an exciting climactic point! It felt very real! On to "The Secret of the Abbey."
January 17, 2021
Great little historical/fiction fantasy. Chock full of history. A light hearted read.
August 24, 2021
Great sequel but also unique and independent read as I learned a lot about the story of one of our history's most inspirational women.
March 13, 2016
In my Goodreads review of The Keys of the Watchmen, I wrote: “Kathleen Perrin’s instincts for portraying a 21st-century teenager’s speech and emotions are unerring, and she has created one of the most engaging, instantly involving characters I have read in quite a while.” In that first book, her heroine, Katelyn Michaels, was drafted by the Archangel Michael to save Mont-Saint-Michel, under siege by the English in what became the Hundred Years’ War. To do this, she must travel, using a divinely empowered key (her own unique enseigne disk), to 1424 and discover her calling as a “Watchman.” For me, she not only jumped back in time, but also jumped off the page, and I was equally delighted with Book II of The Watchmen’s Saga, The Sword of the Maiden.
As Book II opens, Katelyn is back in her own time, living at home in the U.S. with her brother Jackson, her father, and her father’s new wife Adèle. Katelyn is recovering from a grave injury she received in the past, but she must keep the true facts from her family, instead devising a story about suffering a bad fall during their recent visit to Mont-Saint-Michel as tourists. Her ordeals in the past have changed her perspective and she has made peace with her new stepmother, even reaching out to her in friendship. Katelyn is 18 and a senior in high school. But she is still a Watchman. This new identity is ever-present in her mind, as is Nicolas le Breton, the young man in 15th-century Normandy who shared her Watchman’s assignment and, in the course of things, became her husband. What was conceived as a necessary part of their scheme to defeat the English (and stop the demonic adversary Abdon) soon turned into a bond of real love, although the couple never had the chance to be truly husband and wife.
Part of being a Watchman entails receiving messages, sometimes direct and sometimes subtle, from the Archangel Michael. Present-day Katelyn continues to receive those intimations of how she must still help safeguard Mont-Saint-Michel and its divinely ordained secret. Her last adventure was only part of the larger mission to prevent the English from wiping out this stronghold in the long conflict of the Hundred Years’ War. The next phase of her mission comes to her in a dream. She hears the voice of Jean le Vieux, her old mentor who prepared her for her first tasks:
I could feel the caring emanating from him. I had known Jean for such a short time, and yet his love was all-encompassing. It gave me an instant understanding of the love God feels for all of his children. That love filled the crevices of hurt that had opened up in my heart. It filled the spaces of doubt and discouragement that had been drilled into my mind, and it soothed the constant pain of my knitting bones and healing skin. (p. 16)
He reminds her of her sacred trust as a Watchman and that more will be required of her now. He assures her, typical of all the Archangel’s messages, that she will know what to do when the time is right. Finally, he gives her the cryptic message that only her dedication and perseverance can fully decode and realize:
“Learn of the Maiden, Katelyn, and take her the sword.”
Since she is back in the present-day world, she has all the resources of the internet to help her research and learn about the Maiden, whom she soon understands to be La Pucelle, the Maid of Orléans, Joan of Arc–the great heroine and martyr-saint of France. At the same time, Katelyn begins to prepare herself for her new challenges, following the lead of the Archangel. She finds that, by angelic intervention, she is already enrolled in different high-school classes than she expected: Medieval history, French language, and rock climbing! She also gets the message to study fencing and horsemanship on her own–no easy task to explain and to convince her parents to pay the bills for these lessons! When she knows she is ready, something very unexpected happens; she hears from her beloved Nicolas in the way she might least have expected.
Clearly, the time for action has come, but she must first get back to Mont-Saint-Michel, and the place where her special key will unlock her way to the past.
I heartily recommend The Sword and the Maiden, along with Book I, The Keys of the Watchmen, to anyone who loves engagingly written historical fiction, peopled with believable characters and full of life. Kathleen Perrin succeeds in touching the broad range of emotions–disbelief, doubt, anger, fear, pain, despair, joy, love–that a modern person might experience if thrust into the past, in the midst of great events.
For my full review, visit The Fictional 100. I received an advance copy of this book.
As Book II opens, Katelyn is back in her own time, living at home in the U.S. with her brother Jackson, her father, and her father’s new wife Adèle. Katelyn is recovering from a grave injury she received in the past, but she must keep the true facts from her family, instead devising a story about suffering a bad fall during their recent visit to Mont-Saint-Michel as tourists. Her ordeals in the past have changed her perspective and she has made peace with her new stepmother, even reaching out to her in friendship. Katelyn is 18 and a senior in high school. But she is still a Watchman. This new identity is ever-present in her mind, as is Nicolas le Breton, the young man in 15th-century Normandy who shared her Watchman’s assignment and, in the course of things, became her husband. What was conceived as a necessary part of their scheme to defeat the English (and stop the demonic adversary Abdon) soon turned into a bond of real love, although the couple never had the chance to be truly husband and wife.
Part of being a Watchman entails receiving messages, sometimes direct and sometimes subtle, from the Archangel Michael. Present-day Katelyn continues to receive those intimations of how she must still help safeguard Mont-Saint-Michel and its divinely ordained secret. Her last adventure was only part of the larger mission to prevent the English from wiping out this stronghold in the long conflict of the Hundred Years’ War. The next phase of her mission comes to her in a dream. She hears the voice of Jean le Vieux, her old mentor who prepared her for her first tasks:
I could feel the caring emanating from him. I had known Jean for such a short time, and yet his love was all-encompassing. It gave me an instant understanding of the love God feels for all of his children. That love filled the crevices of hurt that had opened up in my heart. It filled the spaces of doubt and discouragement that had been drilled into my mind, and it soothed the constant pain of my knitting bones and healing skin. (p. 16)
He reminds her of her sacred trust as a Watchman and that more will be required of her now. He assures her, typical of all the Archangel’s messages, that she will know what to do when the time is right. Finally, he gives her the cryptic message that only her dedication and perseverance can fully decode and realize:
“Learn of the Maiden, Katelyn, and take her the sword.”
Since she is back in the present-day world, she has all the resources of the internet to help her research and learn about the Maiden, whom she soon understands to be La Pucelle, the Maid of Orléans, Joan of Arc–the great heroine and martyr-saint of France. At the same time, Katelyn begins to prepare herself for her new challenges, following the lead of the Archangel. She finds that, by angelic intervention, she is already enrolled in different high-school classes than she expected: Medieval history, French language, and rock climbing! She also gets the message to study fencing and horsemanship on her own–no easy task to explain and to convince her parents to pay the bills for these lessons! When she knows she is ready, something very unexpected happens; she hears from her beloved Nicolas in the way she might least have expected.
Clearly, the time for action has come, but she must first get back to Mont-Saint-Michel, and the place where her special key will unlock her way to the past.
I heartily recommend The Sword and the Maiden, along with Book I, The Keys of the Watchmen, to anyone who loves engagingly written historical fiction, peopled with believable characters and full of life. Kathleen Perrin succeeds in touching the broad range of emotions–disbelief, doubt, anger, fear, pain, despair, joy, love–that a modern person might experience if thrust into the past, in the midst of great events.
For my full review, visit The Fictional 100. I received an advance copy of this book.
March 11, 2016
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved the time period and the settings. Mont Saint Michelle is one of my favorite places in the world and I've been to Chinon where Jean d'Arc identified Charles (in the exact room where it happened). So reading about those places was very cool. There were some things that I wasn't too keen on that made the reading experience not the best.
Let's first start with the characters. Katelyn. I'm not really a fan of her, she dwells on things a lot. And what's with all the crying? For a strong badass female protagonist she cries an awful lot, over every little thing. It doesn't fit with her awesomeness. Her pop culture tangents and references bothered me, especially the Princess Bride. I love that movie as much as the next person, but she brought her laptop into medieval times for the sole purpose of playing the movie for Nicolas?
Nicolas, on the other hand, was awesome, definitely my favorite character. His constant thinking about Katelyn wasn't nearly as annoying as Katelyn's constant thinking of him. He was also a badass character, the stuff he went through and had to figure out, a lesser man would not have been able to do it. Another awesome character was Brother Thibault, I wish he was in it more. His role in the book seemed very superfluous, he was a plot device to get the sword, then to return Katelyn home. I also really liked Jehanne, she was another super strong awesome character.
The parts of the book that annoyed me the most were the unnecessary explanations about things (like the Princess Bride references), the heavy reliance on modern technology for everything, and most of all Katelyn's obsession with planning out her entire future with Nicolas. The "no time" mantra that they had got really annoying really fast.
The technology bit seemed a bit like a cop-out. For some things, sure, brilliant, for others, was it really necessary? All the pictures and research she did seemed a bit much too. Why did she need to bring her iPad with her? Or her laptop. She couldn't have just printed out the pictures? Call them miniature paintings? It was as though Katelyn didn't know how to function without copious amounts of modern tech with her and that bringing the tech was her only purpose for being in the past.
Another thing that took away from fully enjoying the book was the different perspectives. I don't mind chapters flipping between characters, what I do mind is the point of view changing. Katelyn was always in first person, and everyone else was in third person. Frankly, the third person sections were so much better. Katelyn being in first person is probably why I disliked her so much, had her sections been told in third person a lot of her annoying narrative bits wouldn't have been there.
Despite my dislikes of the book I did really enjoy it. I was a history major in college, and was sorely tempted to get my PhD either in Viking history or Medieval French history, so I'm a stickler for not messing up history. Some things I'll forgive a tweak to progress the story, or make it a more cohesive narrative (IF it's a work of fiction) but I judge books hard on accuracy. This book, what a wonderful job! Even with the changes for modern tech it was wonderfully woven into the story without changing any of the major points. The tech was used mostly to explain people's change of mind or to make the character's lives a bit easier. Nothing actually effected the historical narrative. I especially loved the end of the book when Perrin took the time to go into the few changes she did make and to explain decisions she made. Even Katelyn's annoying explanation of the events that led up to that point of the 100 Year's War was very accurate and really nice to have in the book.
Let's first start with the characters. Katelyn. I'm not really a fan of her, she dwells on things a lot. And what's with all the crying? For a strong badass female protagonist she cries an awful lot, over every little thing. It doesn't fit with her awesomeness. Her pop culture tangents and references bothered me, especially the Princess Bride. I love that movie as much as the next person, but she brought her laptop into medieval times for the sole purpose of playing the movie for Nicolas?
Nicolas, on the other hand, was awesome, definitely my favorite character. His constant thinking about Katelyn wasn't nearly as annoying as Katelyn's constant thinking of him. He was also a badass character, the stuff he went through and had to figure out, a lesser man would not have been able to do it. Another awesome character was Brother Thibault, I wish he was in it more. His role in the book seemed very superfluous, he was a plot device to get the sword, then to return Katelyn home. I also really liked Jehanne, she was another super strong awesome character.
The parts of the book that annoyed me the most were the unnecessary explanations about things (like the Princess Bride references), the heavy reliance on modern technology for everything, and most of all Katelyn's obsession with planning out her entire future with Nicolas. The "no time" mantra that they had got really annoying really fast.
The technology bit seemed a bit like a cop-out. For some things, sure, brilliant, for others, was it really necessary? All the pictures and research she did seemed a bit much too. Why did she need to bring her iPad with her? Or her laptop. She couldn't have just printed out the pictures? Call them miniature paintings? It was as though Katelyn didn't know how to function without copious amounts of modern tech with her and that bringing the tech was her only purpose for being in the past.
Another thing that took away from fully enjoying the book was the different perspectives. I don't mind chapters flipping between characters, what I do mind is the point of view changing. Katelyn was always in first person, and everyone else was in third person. Frankly, the third person sections were so much better. Katelyn being in first person is probably why I disliked her so much, had her sections been told in third person a lot of her annoying narrative bits wouldn't have been there.
Despite my dislikes of the book I did really enjoy it. I was a history major in college, and was sorely tempted to get my PhD either in Viking history or Medieval French history, so I'm a stickler for not messing up history. Some things I'll forgive a tweak to progress the story, or make it a more cohesive narrative (IF it's a work of fiction) but I judge books hard on accuracy. This book, what a wonderful job! Even with the changes for modern tech it was wonderfully woven into the story without changing any of the major points. The tech was used mostly to explain people's change of mind or to make the character's lives a bit easier. Nothing actually effected the historical narrative. I especially loved the end of the book when Perrin took the time to go into the few changes she did make and to explain decisions she made. Even Katelyn's annoying explanation of the events that led up to that point of the 100 Year's War was very accurate and really nice to have in the book.
March 23, 2016
Summary:
After being abruptly separated from Nicolas le Breton during the battle to save Mont Saint Michel in 1424, Katelyn Michaels finds herself back in her normal twenty-first century life as an American teenager. Depressed and anxious to be reunited with Nicolas, she is comforted when a series of events and impressions lead her to believe she is being prepared for another mission as a Watchman. When her beloved mentor, Jean le Vieux, comes to her in a dream and gives her the injunction to "learn of the Maiden and take her the sword." Katelyn understands that her mission involves assisting one of the most iconic figures in all of French History. Katelyn is once again whisked back to the turmoil of medieval France during the Hundred Year's War and to Nicolas. However, before the two can consider the future of their relationship, they must first complete their mission to take the sword to the Maiden. Little do they know that their old nemesis, Abdon, is already on their trail and will do everything in his unhallowed power to stop them.
My Thoughts:
I did not read book 1 in this series, but in the beginning pages of book 2, the author caught me up with the adventures of Katelyn Michaels.
The Sword of the Maiden is a time traveling story. The time period shifts from present day to 1424. The Hundred Year's War between England and France is in process.
I loved several features about this story: time period of 1400s, history, travel, culture, society, romance, and the introduction of a French humble maid.
An additional factor in the novel is angelic beings. These messengers are both heavenly and demonic. Unseen and seen forces are at work. A dark force is described as on the prowl and can appear at any moment. The people are on guard and work to prepare for an encounter.
The story is not a Christian fiction genre, but Bible verses are included, and throughout the story God is actively shown working in the lives of people.
The romantic element is pure. Their feelings for each other is a self-sacrificing love. Their love transcends time. They are patient, kind, gentle, and have self-control. These are descriptions written in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.
Katelyn's character is both a supportive role and main role. She is supportive as a warrior. She trains intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically to fight both seen and unseen forces. She has a dual supportive role by helping Nicolas and a young maid named Jehanne d'Arc. Katelyn has a main role in the story because she is a narrator. The story centers on her voice, feelings, and strengths.
The Sword of the Maiden is a young adult read, but I enjoyed reading the story and recommend the book to both young adults and older adults.
Source: Free copy from Kathleen C. Perrin and France Book Tours in exchange for a review.
Review: 5 stars for excellent.
After being abruptly separated from Nicolas le Breton during the battle to save Mont Saint Michel in 1424, Katelyn Michaels finds herself back in her normal twenty-first century life as an American teenager. Depressed and anxious to be reunited with Nicolas, she is comforted when a series of events and impressions lead her to believe she is being prepared for another mission as a Watchman. When her beloved mentor, Jean le Vieux, comes to her in a dream and gives her the injunction to "learn of the Maiden and take her the sword." Katelyn understands that her mission involves assisting one of the most iconic figures in all of French History. Katelyn is once again whisked back to the turmoil of medieval France during the Hundred Year's War and to Nicolas. However, before the two can consider the future of their relationship, they must first complete their mission to take the sword to the Maiden. Little do they know that their old nemesis, Abdon, is already on their trail and will do everything in his unhallowed power to stop them.
My Thoughts:
I did not read book 1 in this series, but in the beginning pages of book 2, the author caught me up with the adventures of Katelyn Michaels.
The Sword of the Maiden is a time traveling story. The time period shifts from present day to 1424. The Hundred Year's War between England and France is in process.
I loved several features about this story: time period of 1400s, history, travel, culture, society, romance, and the introduction of a French humble maid.
An additional factor in the novel is angelic beings. These messengers are both heavenly and demonic. Unseen and seen forces are at work. A dark force is described as on the prowl and can appear at any moment. The people are on guard and work to prepare for an encounter.
The story is not a Christian fiction genre, but Bible verses are included, and throughout the story God is actively shown working in the lives of people.
The romantic element is pure. Their feelings for each other is a self-sacrificing love. Their love transcends time. They are patient, kind, gentle, and have self-control. These are descriptions written in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.
Katelyn's character is both a supportive role and main role. She is supportive as a warrior. She trains intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically to fight both seen and unseen forces. She has a dual supportive role by helping Nicolas and a young maid named Jehanne d'Arc. Katelyn has a main role in the story because she is a narrator. The story centers on her voice, feelings, and strengths.
The Sword of the Maiden is a young adult read, but I enjoyed reading the story and recommend the book to both young adults and older adults.
Source: Free copy from Kathleen C. Perrin and France Book Tours in exchange for a review.
Review: 5 stars for excellent.
March 7, 2016
Katelyn is now back home in America and in her own time. Even though she is back with her family, she still is not happy. She wishes she could still go back to the fifteenth century to be back with her love Nicolas. When she is called back on a mission to bring the sword to The Maiden, Joan of Arc. Katelyn is happy that she can now finally be reunited with him. Can Katelyn fulfill her quest and save France?
I liked Katelyn much better than in The Keys of The Watchmen. Katelyn is very mature. She has come to have much respect for those around her. She also takes a responsibility for her role as a Watchman. She is focused on her task, and duty comes first in her priorites. While Katelyn is not as temperamental as she was in the first book, she is still very feisty. She can save herself. At times, she is very emotional. However, she is very understanding of her situations. She is also a strategist and plans everything very meticulously down to the last detail. She is wiser and makes smarter decisions than she did in the the first book. Therefore, Katelyn’s character has developed much more, and I found her a likable protagonist.
Overall, this book is about love, friendship, choices, and responsibility. The message of the book is that there is hope. This book is very slow in the beginning, but halfway through it picks up. It is full of action, mystery, and adventure. I did not like how the perspectives kept changing. Katelyn’s story is told in first person and the other chapters focusing on other characters are told from a third person perspective. I think that the author should have kept the perspective in third person so that the story would flow better. The characters were very fun and engaging. I especially liked the chapters focused on Joan of Arc’s story. Joan was a very brave woman who sincerely believed in her calling, and I found her story to be very compelling. The story was left unresolved, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I recommend this novel to anyone interested in timeless romances, Joan of Arc, and strong heroines.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
I liked Katelyn much better than in The Keys of The Watchmen. Katelyn is very mature. She has come to have much respect for those around her. She also takes a responsibility for her role as a Watchman. She is focused on her task, and duty comes first in her priorites. While Katelyn is not as temperamental as she was in the first book, she is still very feisty. She can save herself. At times, she is very emotional. However, she is very understanding of her situations. She is also a strategist and plans everything very meticulously down to the last detail. She is wiser and makes smarter decisions than she did in the the first book. Therefore, Katelyn’s character has developed much more, and I found her a likable protagonist.
Overall, this book is about love, friendship, choices, and responsibility. The message of the book is that there is hope. This book is very slow in the beginning, but halfway through it picks up. It is full of action, mystery, and adventure. I did not like how the perspectives kept changing. Katelyn’s story is told in first person and the other chapters focusing on other characters are told from a third person perspective. I think that the author should have kept the perspective in third person so that the story would flow better. The characters were very fun and engaging. I especially liked the chapters focused on Joan of Arc’s story. Joan was a very brave woman who sincerely believed in her calling, and I found her story to be very compelling. The story was left unresolved, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I recommend this novel to anyone interested in timeless romances, Joan of Arc, and strong heroines.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
March 25, 2016
The Sword of the Maiden takes place where The Keys of the Watchmen left off, where Katelyn Michaels visited Mont Saint Michel with her brother. They were there to visit their father and his new bride. A strange encounter at the abbey whisks them back to the medieval time, where she finds out she is a Watchman.
In The Sword of the Maiden, Katelyn is recovering from her injuries and getting on with her life. She misses her husband Nicholas le Bretonand knows that she will soon have to undertake a new mission. In a dream, a man from the past tells her it is her duty to find the sword and give it to the "maiden" so that Mont Saint Michel is saved. She needs to go back in time again so off to France she goes to be reunited with Nicholas and to learn more about her mission.
The Hundred Years war was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of England and against the House of Valois, rulers of France. Jehanne (Joan of Arc) is known as the Maid of Orleans, who was raised in the village of Donremy in what was then in the northeastern part of France. The sword that Katelyn is to find is also the sword that she needs to take to Jehanne. Jehanne gets "visions" of Saint Margaret, Saint Catherine and Archangel Michael telling her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination. We all know of the fate of Joan of Arc so I won't say anymore. Katelyn and Nicolas's mission is fraught with danger from one of their enemies, Abdon, a supernatural being bent on stopping Katelyn and Nicolas from completing their mission.
This book is very well researched, the reader gets a glimpse into medieval France during a turbulent time in history. I learned quite a bit more about The Hundred Years War and it was actually a fascinating time in history. This book, even with all of the history in it, was easy to read. I love time travel stories and this one was very good, poignant but triumphant as well. Can history be changed? Probably not but it is worth thinking about. I enjoyed it very much and I look forward to reading The Watchmen Saga, the third and last in the series.
In The Sword of the Maiden, Katelyn is recovering from her injuries and getting on with her life. She misses her husband Nicholas le Bretonand knows that she will soon have to undertake a new mission. In a dream, a man from the past tells her it is her duty to find the sword and give it to the "maiden" so that Mont Saint Michel is saved. She needs to go back in time again so off to France she goes to be reunited with Nicholas and to learn more about her mission.
The Hundred Years war was a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of England and against the House of Valois, rulers of France. Jehanne (Joan of Arc) is known as the Maid of Orleans, who was raised in the village of Donremy in what was then in the northeastern part of France. The sword that Katelyn is to find is also the sword that she needs to take to Jehanne. Jehanne gets "visions" of Saint Margaret, Saint Catherine and Archangel Michael telling her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination. We all know of the fate of Joan of Arc so I won't say anymore. Katelyn and Nicolas's mission is fraught with danger from one of their enemies, Abdon, a supernatural being bent on stopping Katelyn and Nicolas from completing their mission.
This book is very well researched, the reader gets a glimpse into medieval France during a turbulent time in history. I learned quite a bit more about The Hundred Years War and it was actually a fascinating time in history. This book, even with all of the history in it, was easy to read. I love time travel stories and this one was very good, poignant but triumphant as well. Can history be changed? Probably not but it is worth thinking about. I enjoyed it very much and I look forward to reading The Watchmen Saga, the third and last in the series.
March 9, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and couldn’t wait to get back into Katelyn’s world where medieval history becomes daily life. I would suggest starting with book one, The Keys of the Watchmen, to understand how a 17-year-old American receives her calling to become a Watchman and helps to save the future of France.
In this second adventure, Katelyn Michaels again travels back in time to Mont St Michel at the end of 1428. Once there she must prepare to journey on to the east of France, with Nicolas le Breton, another Watchman, to fulfil their mission to give a sword to a young maiden trying to save France from the English. This time Katelyn is more willing to help, more prepared and most importantly more confident in her ability to succeed. Her only doubts seem to be about her future with Nicolas, but their dedication to the mission means for the moment they have no time for or to themselves. Once again they are thrust into a country at war and must ensure the correct decisions are made to save France without rewriting history.
This is a very readable book that takes you to the heart of the action and all the grime and hardship of life in medieval France and I really felt history coming alive. I loved the preparations Katelyn makes before her journey, to ease the pain of her mission and the clever twists where modern day gizmos make sly appearances to help things along. Although with their archenemy, the evil Abdon, who will stop at nothing to halt them, Nicolas and Katelyn can never be sure who to trust or what might be lurking around the next corner. The little cliff-hangers at the end of the chapters frequently had me thinking ‘Oh no!’ and I often had my fingers crossed as I was reading. Not since Harry Potter have I been so captivated by a Young Adult novel and I had no idea French medieval history could be so interesting. I loved it and can’t wait for more from Kathleen.
In this second adventure, Katelyn Michaels again travels back in time to Mont St Michel at the end of 1428. Once there she must prepare to journey on to the east of France, with Nicolas le Breton, another Watchman, to fulfil their mission to give a sword to a young maiden trying to save France from the English. This time Katelyn is more willing to help, more prepared and most importantly more confident in her ability to succeed. Her only doubts seem to be about her future with Nicolas, but their dedication to the mission means for the moment they have no time for or to themselves. Once again they are thrust into a country at war and must ensure the correct decisions are made to save France without rewriting history.
This is a very readable book that takes you to the heart of the action and all the grime and hardship of life in medieval France and I really felt history coming alive. I loved the preparations Katelyn makes before her journey, to ease the pain of her mission and the clever twists where modern day gizmos make sly appearances to help things along. Although with their archenemy, the evil Abdon, who will stop at nothing to halt them, Nicolas and Katelyn can never be sure who to trust or what might be lurking around the next corner. The little cliff-hangers at the end of the chapters frequently had me thinking ‘Oh no!’ and I often had my fingers crossed as I was reading. Not since Harry Potter have I been so captivated by a Young Adult novel and I had no idea French medieval history could be so interesting. I loved it and can’t wait for more from Kathleen.
May 6, 2016
IF YOU LIKE France, history and a good story this is the book for you. This is a historical novel, well researched, with a fun time travel thrown in. The main character is Katelyn who on a visit to France discovers she is a Watchman – she must make sure history goes as written. She is pulled into the past and has many adventures until she is returned to the present—just a couple hours later—in near death condition. She recuperates back in the US but she has visits from the Archangel Michael that leads her to believe she must prepare herself for a future trip. She takes up fencing and horseback riding. In the past we learn about Jehanne, a girl Katelyn’s age, who also hears from the Archangel. She is a simple girl who can’t read or write and lives in war torn France. Luckily she has a loving family and she becomes Joan of Arc with a lot of help from Katelyn. This is a very long book, 61 chapters, with a lot of history but if you enjoy historical novels this is a very good story. Hope you enjoy it.
May 16, 2016
Separated from Nicolas de Breton during the battle to save Mont Saint Michel from the English in 1424, Katelyn Michaels was sent back to her 21st century life as a high school student. Torn between her love for Nicolas in the past and her family in the present, she is depressed, but begins to experience a sequence of events that seem to be preparing her for another mission as a Watchman.
The mission, she soon learns, is to deliver a sword to the Maiden, the young girl who is destined to defeat the English and save the French nation. But, in order to do so, she must survive the efforts of the fallen angel, Abdon, to kill her.
The Sword of the Maiden by Kathleen Perrin is the second book in the Watchmen series. It skillfully melds historical fact with magic and fantasy as the reader is taken on a fantastic journey through the past. The characters, real and imagined, come alive on the pages, and the drama and action is nonstop. The author has created an amalgam of real and make-believe that is totally believable.
The mission, she soon learns, is to deliver a sword to the Maiden, the young girl who is destined to defeat the English and save the French nation. But, in order to do so, she must survive the efforts of the fallen angel, Abdon, to kill her.
The Sword of the Maiden by Kathleen Perrin is the second book in the Watchmen series. It skillfully melds historical fact with magic and fantasy as the reader is taken on a fantastic journey through the past. The characters, real and imagined, come alive on the pages, and the drama and action is nonstop. The author has created an amalgam of real and make-believe that is totally believable.
May 24, 2016
Another page-turner historical time-traveler piece, and I'm looking forward to the third installment and to finally discovering what becomes of the Katelyn-Nicholas duo. Having read Book One, with Katelyn's ingenuous use of modern technology, I was intrigued to know how the author's use of modern inventions and technology would be implemented in the second installment.
I had never been a lover of history until I lived in Europe on a number of occasions and came to understand and appreciate what happened on the other side of the "pond" prior to the establishment of this great land of America. The Watchman Saga has enlightened me and converted me to the enjoyment of the study of history. Although I knew some basic facts about Jeanne d'Arc and Mont Saint Michel had been a favorite spot to visit, thanks to this series I now have a deeper appreciation for their significance in European history. Bring on Book Three!
I had never been a lover of history until I lived in Europe on a number of occasions and came to understand and appreciate what happened on the other side of the "pond" prior to the establishment of this great land of America. The Watchman Saga has enlightened me and converted me to the enjoyment of the study of history. Although I knew some basic facts about Jeanne d'Arc and Mont Saint Michel had been a favorite spot to visit, thanks to this series I now have a deeper appreciation for their significance in European history. Bring on Book Three!
April 14, 2016
This second book captivated me, just as the first did. I loved continuing Katelyn's story! I loved traveling back in time! I loved learning a bit about Joan of Arc! I hated that the book ended and I have to wait until December for the last book!
The only thing that bothered me about the book is this: for a book that is steeped in Christianity, has actual biblical scriptures quoted, involves doing God's will and harkening to the voices of Saints and angels, there is very little mention of Christ. It is Katelyn Michaels who is the only hope. She is striving to be a savior of the world. Alas, I realize it is a work of fiction and I enjoyed it as that. There were just a few sentences that irked me.
Christ is the Savior. He overcame the world. He is our hope.
The only thing that bothered me about the book is this: for a book that is steeped in Christianity, has actual biblical scriptures quoted, involves doing God's will and harkening to the voices of Saints and angels, there is very little mention of Christ. It is Katelyn Michaels who is the only hope. She is striving to be a savior of the world. Alas, I realize it is a work of fiction and I enjoyed it as that. There were just a few sentences that irked me.
Christ is the Savior. He overcame the world. He is our hope.
September 16, 2016
While I was anxious to read more about Katelyn Michaels and her role as Watchman, I didn't enjoy this as much as I did the first one. Joan of Arc is one of my favorite historical figures and I loved the depiction of how she came to lead the armies of France to victory, but I guess it bothered me how Katelyn was essentially lying to Joan throughout the story.
I am looking forward to the next one and would really like Katelyn and Nicholas to have *some* happiness together.
It's funny- I didn't realize it until it appeared on my Facebook timeline, but it was almost a year ago that I read the first book in the series.
I am looking forward to the next one and would really like Katelyn and Nicholas to have *some* happiness together.
It's funny- I didn't realize it until it appeared on my Facebook timeline, but it was almost a year ago that I read the first book in the series.
December 15, 2015
Completely engaging! Delightful historical fiction. I gave 5 stars because the fictional characters are well developed and appealing, the history research was clearly done and there are spiritual insights (like the works of CS Lewis). If you like history, romance, suspense and religion - you will find them all in this well written book.
February 18, 2016
It was nice to read about Katelyn's next adventure, but there were many times I wanted the plot to move along at a faster pace. I love the story of Joan of Arc, but sometimes all the details about her got to be too much especially after recently watching a documentary about her. But if one doesn't know a lot about her then this book will be a good introduction.
June 22, 2016
I really enjoyed the first book in this series...but I could not put this second book down! The characters were more complex and interesting. I, also, missed Jackson's character but loved the new Thibualt. Kaitlin's voice seemed more realistic than in the first book. Read these books!!
July 14, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. There is a lot of history about Joan of arc in this book and I really enjoyed learning more about her, I may read another book just about her. I can't wait for the next book so I can see what happens!
March 15, 2016
Probably a 4.5 rating. Another great historical adventure.
June 23, 2016
It is a great book to read
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