The Gleemaiden

Sir Richard Straccan #3

by Sylvian Hamilton

This is Sylvian Hamilton's third novel featuring the exploits of Sir Richard Straccan, ex-Crusader and dealer in holy relics. At the end of The Pendragon Banner, Straccan had lost the woman he loved -- captured by his enemies, now being held God-knows where. His first task in The Gleemaiden is to find her. His second, to escort the great bell, Gaudete, to its resting place in Durham. His third to save from her enemies the Gleemaiden of the title and the mysterious child she protects.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2004

About the author

Sylvian Hamilton has been at different times a secretary, mother, lexicographer, journalist, farmer, second-hand bookseller and antiques dealer. She is a devoted a Star Trek fan. Since arthritis clipped her wings, she spends much of her time at home, a tiny cottage in the Scottish border country, with a very patient husband, two cats and about five thousand books.

Reviews

[SBC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this book, mostly because I didn't like the writing style - I found it very fragmented and bitsy, told in broken segments from lots of different characters' perspectives, but rarely from the character I was anticipating - the gleemaiden herself. Also, the representation of medieval life and mindset was unappealing (although admittedly perhaps realistic). An unrealistic aspect, IMHO, was the slang character's used, e.g. 'What's up?'.

I thought this story had a lot of unnecessarily complicated backstory until I realised it was the third book in a series at which point the complicated backstory began to make sense!

One thing I liked about this book was how I learned a few new words:
gleemaiden (I had heard of gleemen, but 'gleemaiden' is a great complement); morthwork - difficult to find in a dictionary, this word was used apparently synonymously with witchcraft/sorcery/necromancy.

The Gale Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology says: "The Anglo-Saxon system of magic was based on the Teutonic. Witchcraft practitioners were called wicca (or wicce, femi-nine), scin-laeca, galdor-craeftig, wiglaer, and morthwyrtha. A wiglaer (from wig, idol or temple, and laer, learning) was a wizard, and a wicca or wicce was a witch. Scin-laeca (a shining dead body) was a species of phantom or apparition; the term was also used to identify someone who had the power of producing such phantoms. Galdor-craeftig implies one skilled in incantations, and morthwyrtha is, literally, "a worshiper of the dead." Another general appellation for such personages was dry (magician)."

[Georgina Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. It has a great story line, great characters and great setting. It was the first historical novel I've read and it's really inspired me to read more. I learned at lot about the way things were, the things they ate, the words they used, etc. However it also has a slight fantasy element to it as well. Initially a little confusing, as there is a lot of characters, some with similar names (i.e Miles and Giles), sometimes referred to as different name (i.e. Sorrow and Roselyn), and sometimes referred to as their first name and sometimes their surname (i.e Sir Richard and Stracchen). However the further into the story the less confusing this gets as you get to know the characters more. There are also several different story lines at once, they all interlink in some way, but again, initially, this just adds to the confusion. It's called The Gleemaiden, but to be honest she wasn't one of the biggest characters, and it could have easily be called something different so don't ponder too much on the name. There are a few unanswered questions, like what did Bane do? It could have been rounded off a little better I think, and I would have been more than happy to continue reading! Overall a fantastic novel with mystery, history and fantasy and well written! Thoroughly recommended – not bad for 50p at a car boot! There are two more books which come before this one, which I wish I'd read first, but I shall still read them as no doubt they're as good!

[Anne Mathison]

A Well Told Tale: Sir Richard Strachan, one time Crusader Knight and now a purveyor of religious relics has been searching the country for his lost love, a girl who was accused of witchcraft and who has vanished into thin air. Sir Richard's own daughter Gilla "who has the gift" assures her father that Janiva is safe and will come to him when the time is right.

Sir Richard is not satisfied with this and sets out to find Janiva with the help of a symbol his daughter has given him to help him find the place where Janiva is hiding. When he eventually arrives at the place Janiva is not there, only an old woman who tells the knight that he must be patient and Janiva will eventually come to him.

On his return to his home an old friend of his Sir Miles has arrived. The knight is close to death from a fever and a wound in his leg, sustained while trying to bring a young girl a Gleemaiden and a small boy back to the safety of the boy's relations in England. The boy has become embroiled in the religious fanaticism that is sweeping France. They have been followed into England by three knights, code named angels.

Will Sir Miles and the boy and girl be safe under the protection of Sir Richard Strachan, or are they doomed to die at the hands of the "angels" . . .

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historic novel and easy reading. Entertaining, with some romance, some drama, some humour, a little mysticism and likeable characters.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historic content & plot, action had it all.
Only one loose end not tied up & that was what happened to the dog Coy who adopted Stracchan, otherwise very good

[Reena · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story, messy read

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this third instalment about Sir Richard Straccan without having read number two, but it stands alone okay I feel. Like the first book in the series, The Gleemaiden doesn't mess about and immediately hooks you with a punchy first sentence. I'm starting to wonder if this is a little trade-mark of Sylvian Hamilton? Sir Richard once again finds himself at the centre of mayhem and adventure and has to deal with sabotage, murder and magic along the way.

[OT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best book of the triptych. Writing style more vivid, descriptive, witty, humoristic. Still, the structure of the book makes it difficult to get a hold of the different strands that come together only at the end. Reading material for young adults.

[Jennifer Macaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, fast paced, wonderful read.

[Brenda Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the three books in this series. I am sad that there were no more written. I could have continued on for many more stories with these characters.

[Farfished9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I should give this book 3 or 4 stars....3 doesn't seem like enough...4 might be too many...ohwell--piss or get off the pot, eh?

Great intro line...wonderful beginning...

"Countess Judith kept her husband's head in a box."

OoOOoo...kick ass--right? So I never put this book down...for me, it was an easy read and I wasn't confused by all the characters (many with odd lil names)like several folks have said they were.

Anyway--there is a little bit of everything here. We have conspiracy (tons)...secret missions on the behalves of good, evil, and whatever happens to fall in between...There are religious aspects...spiritual aspects (both of which are interesting as historical viewpoints leading right on up to popular beliefs today)...Mysticism (hell yeah)...more than one trecherous journey...True love (sigh) and more! As the inner jacket says...pleanty of spies and thieves...crooked religious and political figures...superstition and power struggles.

Being that kinda book set in the dark ages--it IS violent. If you like the raw brutality said to have marked these times--you'll like all the bloodshed in this book. I'm the kinda person who gets queezy when someone else gets a flu shot...purposefully avoids the news because it breaks my heart...and turns the station when those abused animal commericals come on TV 'cause the looks on those furry lil angels' faces will keep me up sobbing all night.

Normally I can only take doses of graphic violence in comic book form...

I found myself sickened by all the violence in this read, but none of it was unnecessary (in my opinion). By that I mean like...just thrown in for the heck of it. It was fairly easy, for even me, to swallow because it was presented well enough and in good taste.

So don't be turned off by the promise of violence in this book if you're a sensative sammy like me...Go for it...you'll be ok. =)

I haven't read the other books in this series--I suppose I will. Very entertaining read...I recommend it.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit wary of this book. Anything that includes the Templars and the Cathars sets my alarm bells ringing.In fact, if I had a revolver, I'd do the Hermann Goering thing and reach for it. I sort of know what to expect, mystic stuff and witchery, and I'm not really into that in my historicals. Actually I wasn't that far out, as one very common theme about the Templars was in there, right at the very heart of the plot. It's apparently the reason why a blood-crazed bishop has sent three knights to bump off one unfortunate and apparently innocent little boy.

(Bishops often seem to get a bad write up in historical novels these days. If I was a member of the bishops' union I'd be writing to someone to complain. Medieval bishops are apparently very different to the really nice guys who get these jobs in the 21st century.)

Nevertheless, I enjoyed this one. It's well-written, a good adventure, and you end up caring about the characters and wanting them to come through. Always a good sign. In addition the characters are overwhelmingly the sort of people you would expect to meet in real medieval life. Decent folk, struggling along against the odds.

I haven't come across the author, Sylvian Hamilton, before. Would I read more of her work? Definitely, indeed I shall be looking out for them. Recommended.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GLEEMAIDEN – Ex
Sylvian Hamilton – 3rd book in series (Medieval Mystery – UK release)
Ex-Crusader, now trader in holy relics and general sword for hire, Sir Richrad Straccan has lost the woman he loved to his enemies. His first task is to find her. His second, to escort the great bell, Gaudete, to its resting place in Durham. His third to save from her enemies a young woman, the Gleemaiden of the title, and the mysterious child she protects.
*** I loved this book. I had no problem with the speech being modern English – I read Chaucer in Old English; that was enough. Even so, I felt it conveyed such a excellent sense of the time – the violence and brutality of the Crusades, the complete domination of the Church over people’s lives and yet their belief in magical powers and the lack of hygiene. But there was also humor and the wonderful character of Sir Richard. It also has one of the all-time best opening lines; “Countess Judith kept her husband’s head in a box.” I have already sought out and ordered the first two books of this series and have added Ms. Hamilton, who has a delightful bio in the back of the book, to my “must buy” list.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it- I found that there weee way too many charaters- I later see that it is a thrid or fourth in a series- so I am sure if I had started with Book 1 it would have made more sense. I liked it- I just wish that the author had used more period appropriate language within the text.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour of Sir Richard having to deal with the pligrims and their problems.