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Troubadour
A maidservant mistaken for a wealthy bride, a sharp-tongued jester and a great lord determined to save his city-state from being destroyed by a papal crusade. In this medieval tale of intrigue and deception set in the time of the troubadours, can love prevail against savagery, and right against treason? Can an unlikely alliance between a maidservant and a powerful lord save a city from destruction?Forced to flee the English court after the lecherous King John attacks her, Adela, the queen's hairbraider, finds employment in the entourage of Lady Alys. Alys is on her way to marry the Lord of Mirascon, a fiefdom in southern France. However, the south is under threat from Pope Innocent III's military crusade against the heretics.After trying in vain to rally his fellow lords against invasion, Richart, Vicomte de Mirascon, makes an alliance with King John. A political marriage to the Lady Alys – the king's discarded mistress – will allow Richart to safeguard his people from a merciless land grab and cruel slaughter.When the bridal party is ambushed, Adela is mistaken for her dead mistress by the people of Mirascon. Adela knows she must tell Richart that she is not his betrothed, but as she is dragged deeper into the deception, she is also powerfully drawn to the beleaguered man trying to protect his people and his culture. Adela is recognised by the dwarf Derwent, Richart's English jester, who seems willing to keep her secret for the time being. Yet as suspicion builds up against her, paying with her life seems inevitable. As the savage army marches south, can Richart and Adela overcome a web of deceit and treachery and evade the bonfires of the crusaders, or will their land of troubadours and tolerance be destroyed forever?Set in the time of the Crusades, Isolde Martyn's newest historical adventure has all the battle, action and romance of the Outlander series, plus the political intrigue and danger of a Philippa Gregory novel.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Isolde Martyn
27 books54 followersIsolde has always had a great love of history, and writing historical fiction is a wonderful way to share her enthusiasm.
THE MAIDEN AND THE UNICORN, Isolde's debut novel, won a Rita for 'Best First Novel' in the US and the inaugural 'Romantic Book of the Year Award' in Australia. Since then, she has written eight historicals and has just finished an Elizabethan novel: The April King based on real events surrounding Shakespeare's patron.
Isolde has a History Honours degree from the University of Exeter, UK, with a specialization in Yorkist England, a lifelong interest, and she has worked as a university history tutor, research assistant and archivist. She was a senior book editor with a major international publishing house before taking up writing fiction full-time.
COUNTRY TOWN, a history picturebook for children, has been a long term project. It tells the story of an imaginary country town in Australia and how it changes decade by decade, and has been lovingly brought to life by illustrator Louise Hogan. The accompanying text by Isolde and First Nations teacher Robyn Ridgeway shows the experience of real towns and is a great jumping off point for classroom discussion. It is also a nice book for grandparents to share with grandkids and reminisce.
Award:
Winner: Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Award 2025
In shortlist of three for New South Wales Premier's History Award for Young People 2025
Isolde is a former chair of the Richard III Society in Sydney and a co-founder and currently Chair of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia (that's the era 1100--1500)
THE MAIDEN AND THE UNICORN, Isolde's debut novel, won a Rita for 'Best First Novel' in the US and the inaugural 'Romantic Book of the Year Award' in Australia. Since then, she has written eight historicals and has just finished an Elizabethan novel: The April King based on real events surrounding Shakespeare's patron.
Isolde has a History Honours degree from the University of Exeter, UK, with a specialization in Yorkist England, a lifelong interest, and she has worked as a university history tutor, research assistant and archivist. She was a senior book editor with a major international publishing house before taking up writing fiction full-time.
COUNTRY TOWN, a history picturebook for children, has been a long term project. It tells the story of an imaginary country town in Australia and how it changes decade by decade, and has been lovingly brought to life by illustrator Louise Hogan. The accompanying text by Isolde and First Nations teacher Robyn Ridgeway shows the experience of real towns and is a great jumping off point for classroom discussion. It is also a nice book for grandparents to share with grandkids and reminisce.
Award:
Winner: Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Award 2025
In shortlist of three for New South Wales Premier's History Award for Young People 2025
Isolde is a former chair of the Richard III Society in Sydney and a co-founder and currently Chair of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia (that's the era 1100--1500)
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 13, 2017
As Adela fled the clutches of the evil King John, she was sure she would never survive; with the hounds after her, she knew she needed her wits as never before. Stowing away proved to be a blessing; though terrified for her life, Adela finally and with a breath of relief, set foot on France’s soil. But more was to test her – starving and weak she wondered if she had swapped one misfortune for another.
The day Adela spied the soldiers accompanying the woman who was to marry the Lord of Mirascon, her fortune changed. Lady Alys hired her as a laundress – and so the entourage journeyed slowly toward their destination. But the south of France was rife with brigands and thieves. Was Adela’s fortune about to be changed once again?
Richart, Vicomte de Mirascon, was determined to keep his people safe from the savagery that surrounded the city. With the imminent arrival of his bride-to-be, he knew King John would honour his agreement. But it appeared torment and torture was set to follow him – Richart’s struggle to do what he knew was right for his people could well come at a cost. What would the arrival of Lady Alys herald? Would it be the answer? Or would there be more trouble for the Lord of Mirascon and his people?
Set in the early 1200s, Troubadour by Aussie author Isolde Martyn kept me enthralled throughout. Brutal, cruel and sadistic – but not graphic – this is what the world was like back then. The women were just chattels to be used for the man’s pleasure. Troubadour is an amazing story, filled with history, determination, betrayal and a deep, abiding love. Truly wonderful characters – Adela, Richart and the diminutive Derwent; not to mention Maud – Troubadour is a novel of historical significance which I have no hesitation of highly recommending.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
The day Adela spied the soldiers accompanying the woman who was to marry the Lord of Mirascon, her fortune changed. Lady Alys hired her as a laundress – and so the entourage journeyed slowly toward their destination. But the south of France was rife with brigands and thieves. Was Adela’s fortune about to be changed once again?
Richart, Vicomte de Mirascon, was determined to keep his people safe from the savagery that surrounded the city. With the imminent arrival of his bride-to-be, he knew King John would honour his agreement. But it appeared torment and torture was set to follow him – Richart’s struggle to do what he knew was right for his people could well come at a cost. What would the arrival of Lady Alys herald? Would it be the answer? Or would there be more trouble for the Lord of Mirascon and his people?
Set in the early 1200s, Troubadour by Aussie author Isolde Martyn kept me enthralled throughout. Brutal, cruel and sadistic – but not graphic – this is what the world was like back then. The women were just chattels to be used for the man’s pleasure. Troubadour is an amazing story, filled with history, determination, betrayal and a deep, abiding love. Truly wonderful characters – Adela, Richart and the diminutive Derwent; not to mention Maud – Troubadour is a novel of historical significance which I have no hesitation of highly recommending.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
February 11, 2017
I finished Troubadour in a day! Very enjoyable. Contemplating what I most liked about it, I think the heroine comes first—I was on her side from the start and she remained brave and appealing right through. I think it was clever that the author didn’t go into her beliefs as such; in the midst of the threat of the bigoted and greedy ‘crusade’ by the French king's forces, and the plight of the Cathars, which were complex issues, Martyn managed to keep Alys-Adela a thinking human being but not a partisan one—all the while explaining in the clearest terms what was going on at that time in France. Admirable!
It must have been difficult writing about the sack of Béziers whilst keeping the main characters' stories going. The ghastly events were somewhat overwhelming at that point but somehow the author aroused human compassion in the reader at just the right moment—I was quite moved, both then and at the fiery confrontation in Mirascon. The religion-fuelled cruelty of that time in France rings dramatically true.
I also loved the hero, and he was a very convincing man of the hour in the last chapter.
Isolde Martyn's books are always page-turners for me and her presentation of history is both lively and authentic. This is a compelling read.
It must have been difficult writing about the sack of Béziers whilst keeping the main characters' stories going. The ghastly events were somewhat overwhelming at that point but somehow the author aroused human compassion in the reader at just the right moment—I was quite moved, both then and at the fiery confrontation in Mirascon. The religion-fuelled cruelty of that time in France rings dramatically true.
I also loved the hero, and he was a very convincing man of the hour in the last chapter.
Isolde Martyn's books are always page-turners for me and her presentation of history is both lively and authentic. This is a compelling read.
May 10, 2017
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Adela is a strong, resilient character, capable of surviving even during the most dire of times. Isolde Martyn has crafted a fantastic protagonist for this book, drawing us in with her plight and her dimensional construct.
At first, this novel is a case of mistaken identity. Adela is mistaken for the dead mistress and then becomes engaged to the one man she’s been hoping to unite with: Richart. She’s happy she’s with him, but she desperately wants to tell him the truth. But then quite early on in the novel, Richart finds out for himself. And the two are separated. And then, it becomes a novel about survival and uncovering betrayal.
“After she had scrubbed the first of Lady Alys’ underskirts, she sat back and drew her hand across her perspiring brow. Her presence had disturbed the stream’s tiny dwellers but now a damselfly clad in iridescent armour returned, then a trio of water skaters came skimming back, anxious to reclaim their manor.”
Troubadour is a lengthy book with plenty of action and plot and underpinned by truly wonderful characters that I loved reading about. I was enthralled throughout the book, eagerly turning each page to keep reading and thoroughly enjoying every chapter. The book is filled with historical information and an engaging cast of characters. This novel has betrayal, love, trickery, and gutsy courage. Adela and Richart are star characters, as are Maud and the hilarious Derwent. Right from the beginning, you’re backing Adela. You want her to succeed and flourish and you want her to survive. She’s young and naive, but she’s also strong and intelligent and compassionate.
“Adela received him courteously, but she would have preferred to swim a filthy moat rather than describe the massacre again.”
There were a few times in the book that were heavy with historical information that was hard to grasp. A lot of the book is based on actual events and so a lot of explaining and information dumping was needed in order for the reader to get the historical significance of what was happening. I did, at times, feel like Isolde could’ve woven the historical information into the book a little more seamlessly so that it wasn’t as confusing and heavy for the reader to understand.
What I loved most about this book is that it’s a standalone, unlike a lot of other epic fantasy books where there are minimum six in a series and it’s a huge investment to keep going. This novel had perfect pacing and was the perfect length to keep me entertained, and the conclusion to the novel was satisfying and engaging. I loved that this was just one novel and not a long-winded series that you had to read to find out the fate of the characters.
I recommend this to fantasy lovers and those of you who love Game of Thrones, but I also recommend this to readers who are perhaps looking to dabble in a bit of fantasy and don’t want to commit to something too heavy. This is a really enjoyable read, and I would highly recommend Isolde Martyn.
I received a copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Adela is a strong, resilient character, capable of surviving even during the most dire of times. Isolde Martyn has crafted a fantastic protagonist for this book, drawing us in with her plight and her dimensional construct.
At first, this novel is a case of mistaken identity. Adela is mistaken for the dead mistress and then becomes engaged to the one man she’s been hoping to unite with: Richart. She’s happy she’s with him, but she desperately wants to tell him the truth. But then quite early on in the novel, Richart finds out for himself. And the two are separated. And then, it becomes a novel about survival and uncovering betrayal.
“After she had scrubbed the first of Lady Alys’ underskirts, she sat back and drew her hand across her perspiring brow. Her presence had disturbed the stream’s tiny dwellers but now a damselfly clad in iridescent armour returned, then a trio of water skaters came skimming back, anxious to reclaim their manor.”
Troubadour is a lengthy book with plenty of action and plot and underpinned by truly wonderful characters that I loved reading about. I was enthralled throughout the book, eagerly turning each page to keep reading and thoroughly enjoying every chapter. The book is filled with historical information and an engaging cast of characters. This novel has betrayal, love, trickery, and gutsy courage. Adela and Richart are star characters, as are Maud and the hilarious Derwent. Right from the beginning, you’re backing Adela. You want her to succeed and flourish and you want her to survive. She’s young and naive, but she’s also strong and intelligent and compassionate.
“Adela received him courteously, but she would have preferred to swim a filthy moat rather than describe the massacre again.”
There were a few times in the book that were heavy with historical information that was hard to grasp. A lot of the book is based on actual events and so a lot of explaining and information dumping was needed in order for the reader to get the historical significance of what was happening. I did, at times, feel like Isolde could’ve woven the historical information into the book a little more seamlessly so that it wasn’t as confusing and heavy for the reader to understand.
What I loved most about this book is that it’s a standalone, unlike a lot of other epic fantasy books where there are minimum six in a series and it’s a huge investment to keep going. This novel had perfect pacing and was the perfect length to keep me entertained, and the conclusion to the novel was satisfying and engaging. I loved that this was just one novel and not a long-winded series that you had to read to find out the fate of the characters.
I recommend this to fantasy lovers and those of you who love Game of Thrones, but I also recommend this to readers who are perhaps looking to dabble in a bit of fantasy and don’t want to commit to something too heavy. This is a really enjoyable read, and I would highly recommend Isolde Martyn.
I received a copy of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2018
Troubadour is an epic adventure with romance and political intrigue that gives an interesting glimpse into what life was like in England and France in the early 1200’s. The detail is really wonderful but there are a lot of terms, names etc. to contend with in order to understand and enjoy the story even more. The cast of characters list and glossary helps somewhat with this.
The two main characters, Adela and Richart, are likeable and their journeys both together and apart are engaging to read, especially how they manage to survive the circumstances of the times. Derwent’s story is also well done.
I can truly recommend this historical adventure as well written with an engaging story and characters that also made me interested in finding out more about the history of these times.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*
The two main characters, Adela and Richart, are likeable and their journeys both together and apart are engaging to read, especially how they manage to survive the circumstances of the times. Derwent’s story is also well done.
I can truly recommend this historical adventure as well written with an engaging story and characters that also made me interested in finding out more about the history of these times.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*
June 11, 2017
I think Isolde Martyn is a wonderful storyteller. I enjoyed this one a lot. It had characters I warmed to and championed, and the historical setting of the book is done well - after all, she knows her history very well! I enjoyed the setting, the adventure, the story, the various characters throughout the book and of course the romantic angle between Richart and Alys-Adela and the character of Derwent was also a stand out. I'm only a little surprised the book is called Troubadours as they are such a minor part of it. I thought there would be more storyline for them but it didn't matter. I enjoyed this one a lot.
June 20, 2024
My first Isolde Martyn but not to be my last. Very taken by this clever story teller who weaves convincing characters together in a lively story. The dramatic historic events unfolding around the unlikely lovers do not overwhelm their story. The author gives enough solid history which feels well researched giving colour and authenticity to the story without drowning it. While this is definitely romantic history fiction there are insights and moments of real emotion that give depth to a sometimes spectacular plot line. An enjoyable read.
May 8, 2017
I loved this book as it was full of history and fiction as well as intrigue. I like the fact that you are given a list of characters, history notes and a glossary so you can keep up with what is going on. The story is well laid out and it flows from chapter to chapter with many interesting characters. The only part of the book I didn't like was the ending. To me it just stopped! If it wasn't for the author's note at the end I would have been left feeling a bit lost I think!
May 16, 2017
I enjoyed this character and admired her bravery and resilience, even though the long arm of coincidence was stretched pretty thin at times. The author shows us the absolute hypocrisy of the church at the time, the savagery of man and how hard it is for the ordinary person to lead a happy uninterrupted life. Richard is an exceptional character; even with him as leader, the future looks challenging.
November 28, 2017
I struggled with this historical novel. I quite liked the characters and the setting and the era held appeal. For me, the novel didn't flow particularly well and at times it degenerated into an average romance novel. I found the ending most unsatisfying, concluding at an odd point and quickly tying up some loose ends. Perhaps this novel just wasn't what I was expecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2019
Set in medieval times this is a story of a plucky hair braider to the Queen ending up getting mistaken for the bride to be given in a marriage alliance. She is in love with the future King she is to marry but how to tell him the truth that his real future bride was killed on the way to meet him. Battles and love - great reading.
July 12, 2020
This book deserves a review by someone much better versed than me. And that's just based on one of the side characters Maude. Women like that have helped the world move to a better place. And the time period is a very painful and thus emotionally charged time when the Catholic church turned their talons to wiping the realm off heretics, more precisely the Cathars. An author I'll go back to ..
May 28, 2017
A fantastically fun romp through medieval France. Warning - should be read with a dictionary of archaic words.
October 9, 2018
I like the story but I feel the ending was a bit rushed...
January 1, 2018
***Warning: Minor Spoilers***
Troubadour by Isolde Martyn was a delightful surprise; a medieval tale of royal pageantry, unwitting deceit and unexpected passion arising between a man of noble heritage and a lowly servant girl thrust into an aristocratic lady’s persona and costly raiment.
Medieval times have always held my fascination and Ken Follett’s masterpiece Pillars of the Earth has always been a favourite. Well, I can honestly say this one is up there with it in both intricately descriptive prose and compelling atmosphere.
Troubadour is a tale about a French Vicomte and the young woman who bewitches him with her beauty while on a pilgrimage to England. Richart is Lord of Mirascon, a fiefdom on the coast of Southern France during the 1200s, while Adela is the English Queen’s hair-braider who has also caught the lecherous eye of her husband, King John Plantagenet.
After a fumbled attempt at rape which she thankfully manages to evade, Adela flees the English monarch’s castle and finds herself in Bordeaux on the coastline of Southern France. To all intents and purposes, King John believes this slippery wench has been torn to pieces by the dogs he set on her when she fled. He has no idea she managed to escape their sharp teeth only to become a stowaway on a ship about to sail across the English Channel.
A chance meeting with Richart’s intended though, as yet, sight-unseen fiancée, Lady Alys — who shares a distinct likeness to the young absconder — and an attack by a group of marauders which wipes out the entire retinue on their way to Richart’s castle for the wedding to take place, sees Adela unwittingly elevated to the title of Lady Alys, soon to be Vicomtesse de Mirascon.
A game of cat and mouse ensues when the Vicomte starts to believe the dead servant girl has come back to haunt him, though any mistrust or confusion soon turns into irresistible attraction.
Treachery and skullduggery abound when jealousies and wounded pride come to the fore and, on the eve of her wedding, Adela/Alys finds herself in the direst of circumstances. Not much later, the man she loves faces a similar fate — betrayed by those he once trusted.
This is a well-written story, abounding with the richness and pageantry of those fascinating times. I can highly recommend it as a worthy read for lovers of chivalry, hard-fought-for romantic liaisons and a myriad amount of treachery and deceit peppering so many of its pages.
Isolde Martyn has penned one of those novels you just know you’ll want to read again — to be taken back to these dark times and be able to seek out those little nuggets, either simply overlooked or cleverly concealed with the first reading.
Because of the era, the writing is medieval in both flavour and speech. Thankfully, the author has added a glossary of terms at the back of the book which helps in interpreting some of the unfamiliar words and terms. Another welcome addition is a Cast of Characters List in the order of appearance before starting the story. This is a wonderful aid to help with identifying the early 13th Century unfamiliar monikers given to folk during those times.
The descriptions throughout this wonderful tome are vivid and rich, however, the author’s final few chapters outdo all those that came before. Every line oozes with atmosphere and dramatic tempo, sucking readers back through the ages to want to stand side-by-side with Alyse and Richart and champion their noble stand against the evil usurpers masquerading in priestly garb and royal robes.
Troubadour is a stunning portrayal of life in those harsh times. It’s one of those treasures that has taken up residence on my bookshelves to delve into again when my soul craves another visit to what life was like back in the Dark Ages.
Troubadour by Isolde Martyn was a delightful surprise; a medieval tale of royal pageantry, unwitting deceit and unexpected passion arising between a man of noble heritage and a lowly servant girl thrust into an aristocratic lady’s persona and costly raiment.
Medieval times have always held my fascination and Ken Follett’s masterpiece Pillars of the Earth has always been a favourite. Well, I can honestly say this one is up there with it in both intricately descriptive prose and compelling atmosphere.
Troubadour is a tale about a French Vicomte and the young woman who bewitches him with her beauty while on a pilgrimage to England. Richart is Lord of Mirascon, a fiefdom on the coast of Southern France during the 1200s, while Adela is the English Queen’s hair-braider who has also caught the lecherous eye of her husband, King John Plantagenet.
After a fumbled attempt at rape which she thankfully manages to evade, Adela flees the English monarch’s castle and finds herself in Bordeaux on the coastline of Southern France. To all intents and purposes, King John believes this slippery wench has been torn to pieces by the dogs he set on her when she fled. He has no idea she managed to escape their sharp teeth only to become a stowaway on a ship about to sail across the English Channel.
A chance meeting with Richart’s intended though, as yet, sight-unseen fiancée, Lady Alys — who shares a distinct likeness to the young absconder — and an attack by a group of marauders which wipes out the entire retinue on their way to Richart’s castle for the wedding to take place, sees Adela unwittingly elevated to the title of Lady Alys, soon to be Vicomtesse de Mirascon.
A game of cat and mouse ensues when the Vicomte starts to believe the dead servant girl has come back to haunt him, though any mistrust or confusion soon turns into irresistible attraction.
Treachery and skullduggery abound when jealousies and wounded pride come to the fore and, on the eve of her wedding, Adela/Alys finds herself in the direst of circumstances. Not much later, the man she loves faces a similar fate — betrayed by those he once trusted.
This is a well-written story, abounding with the richness and pageantry of those fascinating times. I can highly recommend it as a worthy read for lovers of chivalry, hard-fought-for romantic liaisons and a myriad amount of treachery and deceit peppering so many of its pages.
Isolde Martyn has penned one of those novels you just know you’ll want to read again — to be taken back to these dark times and be able to seek out those little nuggets, either simply overlooked or cleverly concealed with the first reading.
Because of the era, the writing is medieval in both flavour and speech. Thankfully, the author has added a glossary of terms at the back of the book which helps in interpreting some of the unfamiliar words and terms. Another welcome addition is a Cast of Characters List in the order of appearance before starting the story. This is a wonderful aid to help with identifying the early 13th Century unfamiliar monikers given to folk during those times.
The descriptions throughout this wonderful tome are vivid and rich, however, the author’s final few chapters outdo all those that came before. Every line oozes with atmosphere and dramatic tempo, sucking readers back through the ages to want to stand side-by-side with Alyse and Richart and champion their noble stand against the evil usurpers masquerading in priestly garb and royal robes.
Troubadour is a stunning portrayal of life in those harsh times. It’s one of those treasures that has taken up residence on my bookshelves to delve into again when my soul craves another visit to what life was like back in the Dark Ages.
April 3, 2017
This was a richly detailed historical romance story set amid crusades and religious intolerance of the 13th century. The authour uses the language of the era which creates a very realistic setting. A glossary is also included to help readers with unfamilar terms. Richart stands out as a strong, compasionate leader in a world often clouded in violence and was the reason I enjoyed this story so much.
April 12, 2017
Set in the time of the Crusades a young hairbraider to the Queen finds herself through crazy random happenstances that land her in Southern France and in the arms of a Lord who thought her beautiful in Court, but their differences in linage meant they could never be together. He then thinks her dead for refusing her King's advances, and he moves on with life. Thanks to her likeness to a Lady travelling to marry him to strengthen armies and political alliances, who is slain before their party arrives in the Lord's castle, Adela takes her place almost by accident and limited fluency with languages and though she means to tell him she's Adela rather than Lady Alys it keeps getting delayed over and over.
At almost 450 pages we see almost unbelievable instances of events, but on paper it flows and holds you tight so you can't put the book down at all. If you listed the plot down in dot points it would seem unbelievable, but thanks to excellent characters and sturdy language, Martyn leaves you only wanting more. We have romance, battles, and clever characters trying to stay alive and on top. The Lord Richart isn't easily swayed one way or another, even when Adela is involved, and we see a believable lord in a time where he's probably had to avoid many attempts on his life by the time he is 18 - his healthy paranoia was what really set him apart for me - he thought for himself, which was refreshing to see.
Adela was an excellent protagonist - she's utterly human and compassionate for even those who wrong her, and she is believably intelligent for the time, and good at using it when necessary. I only now want another book to see how she copes with this new chapter in her life - even if it were just a novella - please, Martyn?
There is no better way to learn history than reading an excellent piece of historical fiction. I haven't come across Martyn's books until now, but now I'm certainly one the hunt for more.
At almost 450 pages we see almost unbelievable instances of events, but on paper it flows and holds you tight so you can't put the book down at all. If you listed the plot down in dot points it would seem unbelievable, but thanks to excellent characters and sturdy language, Martyn leaves you only wanting more. We have romance, battles, and clever characters trying to stay alive and on top. The Lord Richart isn't easily swayed one way or another, even when Adela is involved, and we see a believable lord in a time where he's probably had to avoid many attempts on his life by the time he is 18 - his healthy paranoia was what really set him apart for me - he thought for himself, which was refreshing to see.
Adela was an excellent protagonist - she's utterly human and compassionate for even those who wrong her, and she is believably intelligent for the time, and good at using it when necessary. I only now want another book to see how she copes with this new chapter in her life - even if it were just a novella - please, Martyn?
There is no better way to learn history than reading an excellent piece of historical fiction. I haven't come across Martyn's books until now, but now I'm certainly one the hunt for more.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews