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Knight Errant #1
Knight Errant
A thrilling time-travel romance of Renaissance England.
Robyn Stafford, a young American executive, has flown from Hollywood to England to surprise her lover on his birthday, only to find that he’s married and it’s his wife who’s giving the party. She takes a few days off to recover from her outrage and dismay, travelling and hiking near the Welsh border. There she encounters a handsome young man on horseback, wearing a sword, plate armor and a surcoat, who confidently identifies himself as Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March, and asks directions to a nearby abbey. He thinks the year is 1459 and is amazed by her detailed, printed map and working cell phone. She doesn’t know what to think. But when three hostile knights and two dozen bowmen arrive, he sweeps her up in front of him and carries her off to safety, before turning back to valiantly fight off his enemies. Then, the immediate danger past, he returns and asks her to come and be his lady once he has beaten the king. After a parting kiss, he rides away, into the distant past, to the age of the War of the Roses.
Now Robyn Stafford must find a way to leave the world of today for the fifteenth century, where she fell in love with a young knight.
Robyn Stafford, a young American executive, has flown from Hollywood to England to surprise her lover on his birthday, only to find that he’s married and it’s his wife who’s giving the party. She takes a few days off to recover from her outrage and dismay, travelling and hiking near the Welsh border. There she encounters a handsome young man on horseback, wearing a sword, plate armor and a surcoat, who confidently identifies himself as Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March, and asks directions to a nearby abbey. He thinks the year is 1459 and is amazed by her detailed, printed map and working cell phone. She doesn’t know what to think. But when three hostile knights and two dozen bowmen arrive, he sweeps her up in front of him and carries her off to safety, before turning back to valiantly fight off his enemies. Then, the immediate danger past, he returns and asks her to come and be his lady once he has beaten the king. After a parting kiss, he rides away, into the distant past, to the age of the War of the Roses.
Now Robyn Stafford must find a way to leave the world of today for the fifteenth century, where she fell in love with a young knight.
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
17 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
R. Garcia y Robertson
83 books29 followersRodrigo Garcia y Robertson (born 1949) is an American writer of historical and fantasy fiction. He holds a Ph.D in history and taught at UCLA and Villanova University before becoming a full-time writer. In addition to his eight novels, he has had numerous short stories published in fantasy and science fiction anthologies. He lives in Mount Vernon, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 5, 2024
DNF. Gelezen tot blz. 265, maar ik moest me er echt doorworstelen en heb het daarom opgegeven. Dit is geen ontspannende lectuur meer. Ik lees heel graag historische romans, maar hier worden zoveel beschrijvingen van gebieden en routes gegeven in middeleeuws Engeland, dat ik het toch niet kan volgen, de namen zeggen me niets en de uitgebreide beschrijvingen zijn werkelijk storend. Het blijft me toch niet bij door welke dorpen de personages moeten rijden om op een bepaalde bestemming te komen, en welke wegen ze moeten nemen door welke gebieden om hun volgende doel te bereiken....
Het verhaal op zich is nog wel leuk, hoe Robyn door een misgelopen heksenritueel vast zit in de middeleeuwen en daar mensen ontmoet met dezelfde namen, en veel gelijkenis vertonend met mensen die ze in de twintigste eeuw kent. Er zit dus blijkbaar een doel achter dit vastzitten in de tijd... Het interesseert me echter niet genoeg om door te gaan. Spijtig.
Het verhaal op zich is nog wel leuk, hoe Robyn door een misgelopen heksenritueel vast zit in de middeleeuwen en daar mensen ontmoet met dezelfde namen, en veel gelijkenis vertonend met mensen die ze in de twintigste eeuw kent. Er zit dus blijkbaar een doel achter dit vastzitten in de tijd... Het interesseert me echter niet genoeg om door te gaan. Spijtig.
December 22, 2012
SOME FUN! R Garcia Y Robertson managed to pack this novel full of witchcraft, time travel, medieval life, Edward Of March (future Edward IV) Jacquetta Woodville, called Weirdville in the novel plus a cast of historical characters as well as as battles, burnings, fiery arrows and mad King Henry VI.
Robyn Stafford flies from California to give her boy friend a surprise birthday greeting in England only to find herself surprised and soon among a witches coven. During the course of the novel, Robyn herself becomes a witch, gets sent back to 1460, falls in love with Edward and has many adventures, some of which she could have done without.
I am somewhat jealous of this author as in all my attempts to write I never once was able to create a devious, diabolical, cleverly woven plot as this one. Mr.Robertson is not a woman so the reader cannot help but wonder how he is not only able to get into the head of one but to feature all the female emotions as well.
The sequel to this one is Lady Robyn and The White Rose which I can hardly wait to read.
Robyn Stafford flies from California to give her boy friend a surprise birthday greeting in England only to find herself surprised and soon among a witches coven. During the course of the novel, Robyn herself becomes a witch, gets sent back to 1460, falls in love with Edward and has many adventures, some of which she could have done without.
I am somewhat jealous of this author as in all my attempts to write I never once was able to create a devious, diabolical, cleverly woven plot as this one. Mr.Robertson is not a woman so the reader cannot help but wonder how he is not only able to get into the head of one but to feature all the female emotions as well.
The sequel to this one is Lady Robyn and The White Rose which I can hardly wait to read.
September 9, 2014
Mijn eerste verhaal over tijdreizen, naar één van mijn favoriete periodes dan nog... Als echte geschiedenisliefhebber moest ik even van me af zetten dat niet alles historisch zou kloppen en dat het geen realistische verhaal zou zijn. Gelukkig ben ik daar in geslaagd. Maar toch had ik een dubbel gevoel bij dit boek.
Positieve punten: ik had onmiddellijk een klik met het hoofdpersonage Robyn, ik herkende veel van mezelf in haar. De personages zijn sowieso het beste punt van het boek, ze zijn fijn uitgewerkt en je gaat echt van ze houden (Jo & Joy!!), ook de slechteriken zijn goed uitgewerkt.
Daarnaast was er de magie, in het begin vond ik het maar flauw bedacht hoe Robyn naar het verleden gezonden wordt maar de magische elementen worden gaandeweg het verhaal veel beter. De persoonlijke ontwikkeling van Robyn is hierbij dan ook fijn om te lezen. Ook hoe de personages in zowel het heden als het verleden opduiken is fijn.
En dan de ironie, ooh die vond ik geweldig: Robyn bekijkt de middeleeuwen vanuit de moderne tijd en haar opmerkingen zijn soms echt hilarisch. Haar drang naar hygiënisch voedsel en een bad: twee dingen die ik ook enorm zou missen in de ME.
Maar, en er is een maar!. Hoewel de hoofdpersonages goed zijn beschreven zijn sommige stukken ontzettend droog geschreven. Vooral wanneer Robyn zich verplaatst, dan zijn er ellelange beschrijvingen van de route:
bv. en na dorp X, komt dorp Y, waarachter kasteel Z ligt dat in handen is van lord A, de neef van lord B en de broer van lady C die we 200 paginas geleden al vernoemd hadden.... en na dorp Y passeren ze kasteel D enzovoort
=> echt ik kon op de duur niet meer volgen. Het verhaal speelt zich dan ook af tijdens het begin van de Rozenoorlogen, wanneer Hendrik VI nog op de troon zit en Richard of York, de vader van Edward IV nog leeft: ik weet niet veel af van deze periode en de schrijver beschrijft meer dan de essentie waardoor het soms ingewikkeld werd
maar de plaatsnamen irriteerden me nog meer, ik heb liever beschrijvingen van hoe de plek eruit ziet dan een naam van het gebied..
Met andere woorden een mooi verhaal, met sympathieke personages, dat zich afspeelt in het middeleeuwse Engeland, verscheurt door oorlog, waarin een jong meisje terechtkomt, verliefd wordt, en de zaken bekijkt met een heerlijke dosis moderne ironie. De droge stukken moet je er dan maar bijnemen.
Positieve punten: ik had onmiddellijk een klik met het hoofdpersonage Robyn, ik herkende veel van mezelf in haar. De personages zijn sowieso het beste punt van het boek, ze zijn fijn uitgewerkt en je gaat echt van ze houden (Jo & Joy!!), ook de slechteriken zijn goed uitgewerkt.
Daarnaast was er de magie, in het begin vond ik het maar flauw bedacht hoe Robyn naar het verleden gezonden wordt maar de magische elementen worden gaandeweg het verhaal veel beter. De persoonlijke ontwikkeling van Robyn is hierbij dan ook fijn om te lezen. Ook hoe de personages in zowel het heden als het verleden opduiken is fijn.
En dan de ironie, ooh die vond ik geweldig: Robyn bekijkt de middeleeuwen vanuit de moderne tijd en haar opmerkingen zijn soms echt hilarisch. Haar drang naar hygiënisch voedsel en een bad: twee dingen die ik ook enorm zou missen in de ME.
Maar, en er is een maar!. Hoewel de hoofdpersonages goed zijn beschreven zijn sommige stukken ontzettend droog geschreven. Vooral wanneer Robyn zich verplaatst, dan zijn er ellelange beschrijvingen van de route:
bv. en na dorp X, komt dorp Y, waarachter kasteel Z ligt dat in handen is van lord A, de neef van lord B en de broer van lady C die we 200 paginas geleden al vernoemd hadden.... en na dorp Y passeren ze kasteel D enzovoort
=> echt ik kon op de duur niet meer volgen. Het verhaal speelt zich dan ook af tijdens het begin van de Rozenoorlogen, wanneer Hendrik VI nog op de troon zit en Richard of York, de vader van Edward IV nog leeft: ik weet niet veel af van deze periode en de schrijver beschrijft meer dan de essentie waardoor het soms ingewikkeld werd
maar de plaatsnamen irriteerden me nog meer, ik heb liever beschrijvingen van hoe de plek eruit ziet dan een naam van het gebied..
Met andere woorden een mooi verhaal, met sympathieke personages, dat zich afspeelt in het middeleeuwse Engeland, verscheurt door oorlog, waarin een jong meisje terechtkomt, verliefd wordt, en de zaken bekijkt met een heerlijke dosis moderne ironie. De droge stukken moet je er dan maar bijnemen.
April 11, 2018
B/B+, well-written but implausible. War of Roses + witches + time-travel, oh my!
June 27, 2022
3.5 stars
The cover compared the book to Outlander, which is what caught my attention to begin with. And while there are superficial similarities in plot and style, it does not compare to the depth and research level and complexity to Outlander. So the blurb sets you up for a bit of disappointment. It is also a much lighter tone, with more humor and while there's still violence and death, less impactful than the comparision.
But it is a good story and the characters, both real and fictional are intriguing. War of the Roses is not my area of specialty, so I was a bit in the dark as to what was coming plotwise and the personalities of some of the characters. But it was entertaining, lighthearted in places and suspenseful in others and for the most part an enjoyable read. There are two more novels in this series and I am curious to read them and carry on with the charming characters we met.
The cover compared the book to Outlander, which is what caught my attention to begin with. And while there are superficial similarities in plot and style, it does not compare to the depth and research level and complexity to Outlander. So the blurb sets you up for a bit of disappointment. It is also a much lighter tone, with more humor and while there's still violence and death, less impactful than the comparision.
But it is a good story and the characters, both real and fictional are intriguing. War of the Roses is not my area of specialty, so I was a bit in the dark as to what was coming plotwise and the personalities of some of the characters. But it was entertaining, lighthearted in places and suspenseful in others and for the most part an enjoyable read. There are two more novels in this series and I am curious to read them and carry on with the charming characters we met.
January 4, 2018
Yeah, this book was not so great, so I read it until there was some explanation of how/or why the time travel happened and then I was like, see ya bye no thank you. The end.
October 17, 2013
Ooooooh oh my! What a mad adventure! Left me breathless and giddy and sooooo in love with this fictional Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March. He is "awefully" perfect and tops my top favourite heroes. If i were to face Medieval madness for anyone, that would be young Edward (and yes, he is quite young for being the main love interest, but don't let that mislead you, he is completely captivating and charming and brave and irreverent). I loved the dichotomy between such impeccable gallantry and the utter bloodthirstiness of the era, situations and people. It makes for a very intense reading, so prepare to stand amazed, ladies and gentlemen, this romance has a plot! In fact, the romance skilfully fades into the background for a big part of the story. The complexity of the story comes from the treacherous political intrigue of the 15th Century that our heroine, Robyn Stafford, must navigate to reach her love or her own century. And that intrigue is compounded by witchy machinations (yes, mostly harmless witchcraft is involved, but does not detract from the story). Robyn Stafford is a kickass heroine and she and Edward are lovely together. This is a passage from their first meeting, when a recently defeated/fugitive/charged with treason Edward first mistakes Robyn for a boy and she takes him for a homosexual lunatic:
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Robin Stafford of Holy Wood. What do you do when you are not giving aid and comfort to fugitive earls?" He sounded lighthearted given his family's plight, but even on short acquaintance she could tell Edward believed in making the best of bad fortune, assuming he would somehow set things right. Such youthful sureness made her smile.
"I work for a movie studio," she explained. "Production work mainly. Phone calls, fielding pitches, reviewing scripts, keeping overpriced creeps happy—that sort of thing."
Edward looked thoroughly puzzled. "A moving studio?"
"You know, Hollywood. Show biz. We make pictures."
He plainly did not know. "You work for an artist? A painter? An illuminator?"
"They are more like plays. I wanted to be an actress, but. . ." She realized she had slipped. But it no longer seemed so important to conceal her sex. For an armed madman, Edward acted pretty harmless. Very concerned and gentlemanly, actually. The whole pretense of being a boy began to irk her. Why shouldn't she be honest? Edward was.
He stared down at her from the saddle, still hopelessly puzzled. "You mean like a mummer? Or in a miracle play? One of those boys who puts a pillow in a gown and pretends to be the pregnant Virgin?"
"Sort of." She nodded glumly. This was getting nowhere. "It did not turn out to be all that easy."
"I can well imagine."
[...]
Robyn stopped. This was where they should part. She had no need be there when Edward found his sanctuary to be a ruin-cum-tourist-trap. He rose happily in the saddle, peered down the path, and then turned gratefully to her. "Well, you need not be ashamed," he told her. "Not in the least.""Really?" She already felt bad for the fun she had at Edward's expense. And for the letdown he faced.
"Yes. You would make a fine female, with your fair skin and quick wit. You have the face and voice for it. Pad your figure, put on a wig, and Holy Wood could not want for a better woman. Forsooth, I would fall madly for you myself."
How chivalrous. She grinned up at him, seeing how badly she misjudged his intentions. What she had taken for a gay come-on was warmhearted good humor. Edward Plantagenet, earl on the lam, lost in Wales, hunted by the mad king's men, his noble family fleeing or in custody—yet he took time out to cheer up a common roadside waif. A sexually confused lad, stricken with fits of talking to his hand. Whose biggest ambition was to prance about dressed like a woman. True noblesse oblige.
"Anything's possible," he insisted, "if you put your whole being behind it." She could see he really meant it. An earl at seventeen, rich and handsome to the hilt, but he truly meant to help her. "Come wear my livery," Edward begged. "I do not normally invite beautiful young strangers to commit treason—but you are an exception. Join the fight for justice. When we set England aright, you may get your wish as well. We will have you playing the Blessed Virgin at Coventry on Corpus Christi Day."
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Robin Stafford of Holy Wood. What do you do when you are not giving aid and comfort to fugitive earls?" He sounded lighthearted given his family's plight, but even on short acquaintance she could tell Edward believed in making the best of bad fortune, assuming he would somehow set things right. Such youthful sureness made her smile.
"I work for a movie studio," she explained. "Production work mainly. Phone calls, fielding pitches, reviewing scripts, keeping overpriced creeps happy—that sort of thing."
Edward looked thoroughly puzzled. "A moving studio?"
"You know, Hollywood. Show biz. We make pictures."
He plainly did not know. "You work for an artist? A painter? An illuminator?"
"They are more like plays. I wanted to be an actress, but. . ." She realized she had slipped. But it no longer seemed so important to conceal her sex. For an armed madman, Edward acted pretty harmless. Very concerned and gentlemanly, actually. The whole pretense of being a boy began to irk her. Why shouldn't she be honest? Edward was.
He stared down at her from the saddle, still hopelessly puzzled. "You mean like a mummer? Or in a miracle play? One of those boys who puts a pillow in a gown and pretends to be the pregnant Virgin?"
"Sort of." She nodded glumly. This was getting nowhere. "It did not turn out to be all that easy."
"I can well imagine."
[...]
Robyn stopped. This was where they should part. She had no need be there when Edward found his sanctuary to be a ruin-cum-tourist-trap. He rose happily in the saddle, peered down the path, and then turned gratefully to her. "Well, you need not be ashamed," he told her. "Not in the least.""Really?" She already felt bad for the fun she had at Edward's expense. And for the letdown he faced.
"Yes. You would make a fine female, with your fair skin and quick wit. You have the face and voice for it. Pad your figure, put on a wig, and Holy Wood could not want for a better woman. Forsooth, I would fall madly for you myself."
How chivalrous. She grinned up at him, seeing how badly she misjudged his intentions. What she had taken for a gay come-on was warmhearted good humor. Edward Plantagenet, earl on the lam, lost in Wales, hunted by the mad king's men, his noble family fleeing or in custody—yet he took time out to cheer up a common roadside waif. A sexually confused lad, stricken with fits of talking to his hand. Whose biggest ambition was to prance about dressed like a woman. True noblesse oblige.
"Anything's possible," he insisted, "if you put your whole being behind it." She could see he really meant it. An earl at seventeen, rich and handsome to the hilt, but he truly meant to help her. "Come wear my livery," Edward begged. "I do not normally invite beautiful young strangers to commit treason—but you are an exception. Join the fight for justice. When we set England aright, you may get your wish as well. We will have you playing the Blessed Virgin at Coventry on Corpus Christi Day."
August 1, 2009
Really good story, romance, time travel, witch's and witch's night and running into people in the 1460 that she knows in present day. Her friends, Jo and Joy from now, she meets in 1460 and a married man, Collin who she has an affair with, she meets back in 1460 and his wife. Witches live again and again remembering a bit of their past lives. A Earl's son has a displacement spell put upon him which has his hopping around centuries and the main lady character meets him and they fall in love.
So it's a good story, but a lot of history, which didn't interest me. Telling about every day life and meals and King's problems. I kept skimming over it to read the good parts, the witch's nights adventures, her being put in dungeons for being a witch and so on...oh and the ghost of a dead guy who helps out sometimes.
When I got done the book I read the back, inside cover about the author. He was a history teacher at two universities. UCLA and Villanova University. It says his fiction and fantasy is firmly grounded in fact. He used a lot of facts and real life stuff in the book. That explains why it was so full of history-which I found a bit boring...atleast to read word by word.
So it's a good story, but a lot of history, which didn't interest me. Telling about every day life and meals and King's problems. I kept skimming over it to read the good parts, the witch's nights adventures, her being put in dungeons for being a witch and so on...oh and the ghost of a dead guy who helps out sometimes.
When I got done the book I read the back, inside cover about the author. He was a history teacher at two universities. UCLA and Villanova University. It says his fiction and fantasy is firmly grounded in fact. He used a lot of facts and real life stuff in the book. That explains why it was so full of history-which I found a bit boring...atleast to read word by word.
November 29, 2008
Not only am I in a reading mode, I am also apparently on a time-travel spree. This book was one that my friend Louise recommended to me. I'm not sure what I was expecting-- I think just historical fiction (since that is what the spine said)-- but I got a romance. I guess they couldn't call it "romance" since it was written by a man. Overall, I liked the book, but it often would get bogged down with names and too much in the way of inconsequential details, and many of the characters really didn't seem as full as they could have been. On the plus side, our heroine was smart and plucky (no simpering females here!) and the bulk of the book took place during the Wars of the Roses which was interesting (though confusing at times). There is a sequel, Lady Robyn, where I'm sure many of the loose ends and thinner characters are fleshed out, but I'm thinking I'm not going to bother.
January 2, 2024
I will be honest, this book was a bit of a disappointment.
I've bought the 2nd book from the series when I was a teenager at a library outlet. I had no idea what it would be about apart from it being a "historical" novel. I loved it and all its witchy parts. It was the first time a book got me excited and fascinated with the middle ages. I looked for the first one in the series for a while then, but couldn't find it in any library nearby... and forgot about it.
I cleaned up my bookcase a few months back and stumbled upon "Lady Robyn" once more. I felt like rereading it, but wanted to start with the first one this time around. I bought Knight Errant as an ebook and started with very high hopes and youthful sentiment.
It didn't last long.
**Spoiler alert**
Maybe it didn't bother me back then or maybe I wasn't as critical as I am now, but... the main character Robyn just didn't click with me. She was very entitled and (as she pointed out herself at the end of the book) felt like she had the moral highground on everything and everyone. Also, everyone seems to magically like her and find her very attractive. I didn't catch her age, but she felt like a 30-40-year old to me. She made a big deal about feeling romantic attraction toward a teenager which... I have questions about. No way a teenager is ever that considerate, loving, trusting, naïve and totally unfazed by witches, magic and timetravel. And he is always exactly where he needs to be. Almost like... magic! I know it's fiction, but come on.
Then ofcourse Robyn throws all her moral doubts overboard cause, you know, -shrugs- the middle ages, right? Also, she gets betrothed to the infatuated teen after knowing him for 3 months. "We don't believe in wasting time." Right. I think you don't believe in wasting castles, horses, titles and jewelry, dear Robyn.
The descriptions of the landscape sometimes feel a bit tedious to me. I want a general ambiance... a feel of the environment... not a tourist guide tour through every city and little village Robyn passes through. And no, I don't need to know what villages are next to the one she's in now, if you're never going to mention them again. (Same goes for the hundreds of names and family ties that get a one-time-mention. My brain can't cope.)
I feel like reading a map description sometimes when it does not help the story or character development in any way.
Robyn sometimes develops freakisly accurate knowledge about family ties and political advancement, while being your typical Hollywood actress airhead at other times. Strange.
Also. Have you ever been to Calais on a boat? It does NOT have pearly white beaches and the clearest blue seas... this is Northern Europe, not the Bahamas.
I had an issue with the double medieval morality that only pops up if it helps the writer. Robyn naïvely believes in knight chivalry and women never ever getting raped when in captivity. Even after witnessing public torture and murder, it is "justice". Even after afterwards implying LeBoeuf abusing women. Even after saying only random women get raped, never captives. Even after being dressed down to underwear, put on a rack, tortured in a cell filled with men and mentioning the smell of "male sex" in the room afterwards... I mean... is it just double standards? She's supposed to be a very attractive lying (arrogant) nobody. In the real middle ages she would've been raped or at least abused once. Hardly anyone knew Robyn was captured and in the tower. Her captors wanted to kill her anyway. Why not sneak into her cell "after hours" and have a little fun with her? Maybe it was beneath the lord and Duke, but the soldiers and executioner were little perverted sadists to say the least? Odd.
At last, my friend. What is it with this obsession with medieval dates, Saints, special feasts... (again when it hardly ever advances the story). I get May's Eve for the sake of storytelling. But what about Dismal Day? Why does Robyn need to know that? Why does the reader need to know what day and hour and Saint it is every chance you get? To realize medieval fascination and obsession with everything Christian and religion? We got it from the other stuff in the book.
Also... every other night in the book feels like Witch night. (Friday).
Robyn's in the 15th century for over 3 months. That means approximately 90 days. Only 12 of them are Fridays. Please make stuff happen on other days too. Or bundle your Witches nights a bit. It got tedious after a while.
Generally: I'm disappointed and think I grew out of the story. I won't reread the second book. I'm afraid it will crush the good feeling I had about it. Ignorance is bliss.
I've bought the 2nd book from the series when I was a teenager at a library outlet. I had no idea what it would be about apart from it being a "historical" novel. I loved it and all its witchy parts. It was the first time a book got me excited and fascinated with the middle ages. I looked for the first one in the series for a while then, but couldn't find it in any library nearby... and forgot about it.
I cleaned up my bookcase a few months back and stumbled upon "Lady Robyn" once more. I felt like rereading it, but wanted to start with the first one this time around. I bought Knight Errant as an ebook and started with very high hopes and youthful sentiment.
It didn't last long.
**Spoiler alert**
Maybe it didn't bother me back then or maybe I wasn't as critical as I am now, but... the main character Robyn just didn't click with me. She was very entitled and (as she pointed out herself at the end of the book) felt like she had the moral highground on everything and everyone. Also, everyone seems to magically like her and find her very attractive. I didn't catch her age, but she felt like a 30-40-year old to me. She made a big deal about feeling romantic attraction toward a teenager which... I have questions about. No way a teenager is ever that considerate, loving, trusting, naïve and totally unfazed by witches, magic and timetravel. And he is always exactly where he needs to be. Almost like... magic! I know it's fiction, but come on.
Then ofcourse Robyn throws all her moral doubts overboard cause, you know, -shrugs- the middle ages, right? Also, she gets betrothed to the infatuated teen after knowing him for 3 months. "We don't believe in wasting time." Right. I think you don't believe in wasting castles, horses, titles and jewelry, dear Robyn.
The descriptions of the landscape sometimes feel a bit tedious to me. I want a general ambiance... a feel of the environment... not a tourist guide tour through every city and little village Robyn passes through. And no, I don't need to know what villages are next to the one she's in now, if you're never going to mention them again. (Same goes for the hundreds of names and family ties that get a one-time-mention. My brain can't cope.)
I feel like reading a map description sometimes when it does not help the story or character development in any way.
Robyn sometimes develops freakisly accurate knowledge about family ties and political advancement, while being your typical Hollywood actress airhead at other times. Strange.
Also. Have you ever been to Calais on a boat? It does NOT have pearly white beaches and the clearest blue seas... this is Northern Europe, not the Bahamas.
I had an issue with the double medieval morality that only pops up if it helps the writer. Robyn naïvely believes in knight chivalry and women never ever getting raped when in captivity. Even after witnessing public torture and murder, it is "justice". Even after afterwards implying LeBoeuf abusing women. Even after saying only random women get raped, never captives. Even after being dressed down to underwear, put on a rack, tortured in a cell filled with men and mentioning the smell of "male sex" in the room afterwards... I mean... is it just double standards? She's supposed to be a very attractive lying (arrogant) nobody. In the real middle ages she would've been raped or at least abused once. Hardly anyone knew Robyn was captured and in the tower. Her captors wanted to kill her anyway. Why not sneak into her cell "after hours" and have a little fun with her? Maybe it was beneath the lord and Duke, but the soldiers and executioner were little perverted sadists to say the least? Odd.
At last, my friend. What is it with this obsession with medieval dates, Saints, special feasts... (again when it hardly ever advances the story). I get May's Eve for the sake of storytelling. But what about Dismal Day? Why does Robyn need to know that? Why does the reader need to know what day and hour and Saint it is every chance you get? To realize medieval fascination and obsession with everything Christian and religion? We got it from the other stuff in the book.
Also... every other night in the book feels like Witch night. (Friday).
Robyn's in the 15th century for over 3 months. That means approximately 90 days. Only 12 of them are Fridays. Please make stuff happen on other days too. Or bundle your Witches nights a bit. It got tedious after a while.
Generally: I'm disappointed and think I grew out of the story. I won't reread the second book. I'm afraid it will crush the good feeling I had about it. Ignorance is bliss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2021
I had this book a long time and I'm excited that I will have room on my shelf after reading this. I started reading it deciding to only commit to 50 pages. Well, I finished the whole thing. The plot was really engaging, it kept moving in spite of the length of the book. I'm biased toward time travel and royal history, to be fair.
But, here is the list of things that I didn't appreciate, knocking my rating to two stars:
*Robyn is stupid. Oh, yeah,
*Romance was not believable and flat. Robyn changes her whole world and life for a teenager she hung out with for like an hour? I'm supposed to believe she's a Hollywood executive?! (See stupid, above). Also Edward is missing for about 200 pages.
*Unnecessary liberal agenda. Many references to England not having guns, for example.
*Same joke 800 times: "It had been a long time since Robyn had a bath. Really it had been half a millennium."
*Most of the explicit content in the book was "fade to black" type scenes and the scene was actually important to the plot, with two exceptions that I felt the author threw in purely for humor.
I would maybe read the next book if I could get it from the library or another free method.
But, here is the list of things that I didn't appreciate, knocking my rating to two stars:
*Robyn is stupid. Oh, yeah,
*Romance was not believable and flat. Robyn changes her whole world and life for a teenager she hung out with for like an hour? I'm supposed to believe she's a Hollywood executive?! (See stupid, above). Also Edward is missing for about 200 pages.
*Unnecessary liberal agenda. Many references to England not having guns, for example.
*Same joke 800 times: "It had been a long time since Robyn had a bath. Really it had been half a millennium."
*Most of the explicit content in the book was "fade to black" type scenes and the scene was actually important to the plot, with two exceptions that I felt the author threw in purely for humor.
I would maybe read the next book if I could get it from the library or another free method.
December 28, 2022
Ugh! Now, I like history and I don't know much about War of the Roses, but this book was just boring to me. It is labeled as a time-traveling romance, and the romance just didn't seem believable. As a history professor, the author was caught up in the details of the history. and the development of the characters were weak. Next time when I want to know about the Plantagenets, Lancasters and Yorks, I will read a history book. There were moments I liked, and it did give me an interest to read about King Edward IV, but I won't be reading any more of this series.
November 19, 2015
Robyn Stafford is a young executive in Hollywood who flies to England to surprise her boyfriend on his birthday, only to discover that he is in fact married. Robyn decides to take a few days to recover before returning to America and goes for a hike on the Welsh border. During her hike, she runs into a young man on horseback who claims be Edward, Earl of March and who also claims that the year is 1459. Eventually, Robyn finds herself transported in time back to the fifteenth century, pursued by armed men who want to try her as a witch, and falling in love with the young knight Edward.
Although this time travel narrative has much in common with the wildly popular Outlander series, it failed to capture my interest. There is little deep characterization for any of the main characters, making it hard to believe that Robyn and Edward were truly in love. In fact, Robyn seems to have more chemistry with the married Sir Collingwood Grey than she does with Edward. There is little depth to the character's backgrounds as well. Robyn's parents are conveniently reported as dead and Edward's are all conveniently taken prisoner or also dead. The characters seemed incredibly one dimensional with little personal history. I was waiting for the great love between Robyn and Edward to emerge the whole book and was sadly disappointed when it never really revealed itself. Instead, the majority of the plot was focused on political maneuverings and Robyn constantly being captured.
As with any book involving such supernatural elements such as time travel, some suspension of belief is required of the reader. However, this book strained my limits and included many elements of magic. Robyn is initiated into a coven of witches, who are able to cast spells. Additionally, when Robyn goes back in time, she meets people who seem exactly like those she knew in the present day. It turns out that these are witches and warlocks who are reborn and thus can reappear "half a thousand years hence" (113). I'm not sure what this really added to the story, other than an interesting symmetry of select people Robyn knows in both the past and present.
Finally, many parts of this novel had an almost cartoon-ish quality to them, meaning they seemed like scenes from a comedic children's movie. For instance, Robyn and friends Joy and Jo escape from a tower by tying bed sheets together and rappelling down the side of the building: "Boots slipped on the dark stone, and she swung wildly, banging hard against the tower" (234). Perhaps the most ridiculous plot element: Jo and Joy are constantly accompanied by a pet crow named Hela that caws to warn them of danger, is constantly mocking their conversation, and even joins them for meals, "Hela stalked about the table, pecking at the food, and adding her caws to the conversation. Being witches, no one found that weird" (360).
Although this time travel narrative has much in common with the wildly popular Outlander series, it failed to capture my interest. There is little deep characterization for any of the main characters, making it hard to believe that Robyn and Edward were truly in love. In fact, Robyn seems to have more chemistry with the married Sir Collingwood Grey than she does with Edward. There is little depth to the character's backgrounds as well. Robyn's parents are conveniently reported as dead and Edward's are all conveniently taken prisoner or also dead. The characters seemed incredibly one dimensional with little personal history. I was waiting for the great love between Robyn and Edward to emerge the whole book and was sadly disappointed when it never really revealed itself. Instead, the majority of the plot was focused on political maneuverings and Robyn constantly being captured.
As with any book involving such supernatural elements such as time travel, some suspension of belief is required of the reader. However, this book strained my limits and included many elements of magic. Robyn is initiated into a coven of witches, who are able to cast spells. Additionally, when Robyn goes back in time, she meets people who seem exactly like those she knew in the present day. It turns out that these are witches and warlocks who are reborn and thus can reappear "half a thousand years hence" (113). I'm not sure what this really added to the story, other than an interesting symmetry of select people Robyn knows in both the past and present.
Finally, many parts of this novel had an almost cartoon-ish quality to them, meaning they seemed like scenes from a comedic children's movie. For instance, Robyn and friends Joy and Jo escape from a tower by tying bed sheets together and rappelling down the side of the building: "Boots slipped on the dark stone, and she swung wildly, banging hard against the tower" (234). Perhaps the most ridiculous plot element: Jo and Joy are constantly accompanied by a pet crow named Hela that caws to warn them of danger, is constantly mocking their conversation, and even joins them for meals, "Hela stalked about the table, pecking at the food, and adding her caws to the conversation. Being witches, no one found that weird" (360).
January 23, 2015
I initially started reading this book over ten years ago when I was still in high school. At the time, I hadn't gotten very far into it when I had to return it to the library and soon lost the name of the book. Recently the storyline was on my mind quite a bit but I still could not remember the name of the book which is when I searched Google and was able to find it. Now that I'm older, I think this particular book is something that I can appreciate because I don't need a book to be purely about romance in order to old my interest though I still do very much enjoy books that are mostly about romance.
This book was a fascinating mix of magic, time travel, love, history, and adventure. It is about a young woman from California at the turn of 2000 named Robyn who finds herself jilted by a man named Collin who was leading a double life in Wales when she visited him as a surprise. She soon finds herself taken under the wing of the man's sister Joanna and her young daughter Joy. While out hiking one morning, Robyn comes across a young man named Edward dressed as a knight on horseback and she wonders if he's either from a local Ren Faire or has completely lost his mind from the way that he talks. She soon finds herself needing his help when black riders on horses appear seemingly out of nowhere. Then after coming to her rescue, he rides off and disappears, leaving Robyn wondering if she dreamed it all up.
When she learns that Edward is under a displacement spell, she wants to help him find his way home though the plan doesn't go as she had hoped and is thrown back into the 1460's around the time of the War of the Roses. At first she just wants to get back to her own time but over time, she makes friends in unlikely places, an Irish ladies' maid who is an interesting mix of servant and friend and tossed into a world where people can be killed for even a hint of witchcraft or treason.
Robyn soon finds her way in this strange world and with the help of those she has come to care for, she finds her way to Edward and trying to protect the Mad King Henry while also trying to help out the ancestors of Jo and Joy.
Will she succeed in helping those that she cares for and get back to her time or will she fail? You'll have to read the book to find out.
This book was a fascinating mix of magic, time travel, love, history, and adventure. It is about a young woman from California at the turn of 2000 named Robyn who finds herself jilted by a man named Collin who was leading a double life in Wales when she visited him as a surprise. She soon finds herself taken under the wing of the man's sister Joanna and her young daughter Joy. While out hiking one morning, Robyn comes across a young man named Edward dressed as a knight on horseback and she wonders if he's either from a local Ren Faire or has completely lost his mind from the way that he talks. She soon finds herself needing his help when black riders on horses appear seemingly out of nowhere. Then after coming to her rescue, he rides off and disappears, leaving Robyn wondering if she dreamed it all up.
When she learns that Edward is under a displacement spell, she wants to help him find his way home though the plan doesn't go as she had hoped and is thrown back into the 1460's around the time of the War of the Roses. At first she just wants to get back to her own time but over time, she makes friends in unlikely places, an Irish ladies' maid who is an interesting mix of servant and friend and tossed into a world where people can be killed for even a hint of witchcraft or treason.
Robyn soon finds her way in this strange world and with the help of those she has come to care for, she finds her way to Edward and trying to protect the Mad King Henry while also trying to help out the ancestors of Jo and Joy.
Will she succeed in helping those that she cares for and get back to her time or will she fail? You'll have to read the book to find out.
September 17, 2009
This was a delightful book, and the reason I gave it four stars instead of five was that the narrative and dialogue unraveled in places... almost as if there were another author writing in places, or as if parts of the book didn't get thoroughly edited.
Robyn Stafford meets Edward Plantagenet, who will become King Edward IV of England, when he is 17 and "Mad" Henry VI is still king. Robyn works for a film studio in L.A., but she is on vacation, hiking in Wales, when Edward, in full medieval armor, rides out of the woods and asks her where an abbey (don't remember name) is. It seems to be love at first sight for Edward, though Robyn is, not sure how old, mid-twenties? But she's taken with him too.
Robyn learns that it is witchcraft that brought Edward into the 21st century, and witchcraft takes her back to the 15th century. Much occurs, which I won't go into except to say that she and Edward do have a formal betrothal ceremony. Edward is just all things wonderful, though we, in our omniscience, know that he marries beautiful Elizabeth Woodville (who has not made an appearance) and virtually drinks himself to death.
BUT... there are TWO SEQUELS! I have ordered them both and can hardly wait until they arrive.
Robyn Stafford meets Edward Plantagenet, who will become King Edward IV of England, when he is 17 and "Mad" Henry VI is still king. Robyn works for a film studio in L.A., but she is on vacation, hiking in Wales, when Edward, in full medieval armor, rides out of the woods and asks her where an abbey (don't remember name) is. It seems to be love at first sight for Edward, though Robyn is, not sure how old, mid-twenties? But she's taken with him too.
Robyn learns that it is witchcraft that brought Edward into the 21st century, and witchcraft takes her back to the 15th century. Much occurs, which I won't go into except to say that she and Edward do have a formal betrothal ceremony. Edward is just all things wonderful, though we, in our omniscience, know that he marries beautiful Elizabeth Woodville (who has not made an appearance) and virtually drinks himself to death.
BUT... there are TWO SEQUELS! I have ordered them both and can hardly wait until they arrive.
December 21, 2016
LOVED it! A bit ot romance, betrayal, dejection turns to new lands, some "interesting" people, mysterious men on horseback, time-travel, dropping into a fascinating historical mess 'o intrigue ( and you thought the US political dance is bad...) I appreciated the details of every day matters, and Robyn's reactions and thoughts. Toss in spells, backstabbing (literally) relatives , a coven of trad witches, and a new, strange paramour....sign me up....I'm in. The other books in the trilogy are just as entertaining, if not being in the middle of living during massive historical upheaval. The books is "plausible", which the author skillfully doen't go off the rails on Gordian-knot plot lines. The romance is sweet and hot. The cast is well-fleshed out. My head's got the whole thing in my own movie, as a good book will do. Thanks for making Robyn such a persom...silly, professional, determined, resourceful...and respected and liked by friiends and foes alike. Mr. Garcia y Robertson, if you were here, I'd hug ya. Well done, sir!!
January 24, 2011
"Knight Errant" is a medival-based romance novel about a young woman, Robyn Stafford from Hollywood, California, who is hiking in Wales and finds a seemingly out-of-date guy dressed in full armor, who claims to be the Earl of March in 1459, and the two of them end up falling in love with each other. She later learns that he had been set in a time-traveling spell, and she helps him go back to his own time, which ends up taking her with him. As the story progresses, the two of them try to survive through the challenges and difficulties presented in the War of the Roses, trying to stay together at all costs. I enjoy how the story combines elements such as romantic affairs and medival battles to develop a unique storyline with well-input details. I would suggest this book to fans of time-travel romance, as well as fans of medivalism.
August 1, 2011
Hollywood studio executive Robyn Stafford, traveling to England to surprise her new boyfriend and learning he has a wife, travels to the 15th century for more rewarding adventure. Historical fantasy fiction during the War of the Roses, this one left me wondering if it was worth the time spent reading it — the author has a Ph.D in history and seemed to enjoy making use of historic details, which made this one a rather slow read. Well..., I've reluctantly added the two sequels to this book to my reading list. This was on a list of books recommended for readers who like Diana Gabaldon — whom I've never read.
June 15, 2012
I picked this book up because of comparisons to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander on the cover. It wasn't even close. An interesting read, yes, but at times drawn out and boring. I found myself more interested in the historical detail than the characters at times. I've started the second book, Lady Robyn but am struggling to get into it. I really just want to find out what's going to happen between Robyn and Edward when he finally meets Elizabeth Woodville, the woman he actually does marry!! Of course there is a third book so I may have to wait before finding out. Either that or read spoiler reviews and move on to something that grabs my interest from the get-go.
February 4, 2013
I think I started this book with very high expectations. The Outlander series by Gabaldon is amazing, and this book was said to be similar. It was, but in some way the realistic value was lower. Witches who only reincarnate to exactly the same person, that tell people they are witches and most don't even seem to mind... Yeah, right, in a time of witch hunting!
This was the element that disappointed me most. Apart from that, I enjoyed the story, which is, I think, historically accurate (though I don't know for sure). I understood this was the first part of a trilogy or series, but I don't plan to actively look for the other books.
This was the element that disappointed me most. Apart from that, I enjoyed the story, which is, I think, historically accurate (though I don't know for sure). I understood this was the first part of a trilogy or series, but I don't plan to actively look for the other books.
May 22, 2014
The score should be more like 3.5, but I decided to be generous with the stars partially from nostalgia. I loved this book when I read it in high school; 10 years later, I still enjoyed it, but was slightly less willing to overlook just how strange it all is. Sometimes the focus of the narrative is on the most bizarre things. Also, I doubt anyone from modern times could so easily adapt to mediaeval living, but then again, what do I know? :) (Also, having a pagan mother-in-law made me chuckle at some of the "witchcraft" in the novel. I think as a teenager, I was more open to the idea of miracles from any source.)
January 22, 2012
I read this several years ago and it is the first of three. I recently reread the book in order to finish the second and third. This is a time travel about a LA woman transported back in time to England. There are a lot of details omitted and facts are not totally accurate; but it is a love story w/ a lot of history. Some of it is very real w/ descriptions and other times, too many loosely connected plots. Sometimes, in books they are not written appropriate to the time, and this is one of them. You can try it and will find out by the third chapter if you want to finish.
June 11, 2009
I enjoyed this book a lot, as cliche of a plot it may sound like.
But it turns out to be a pretty interesting story. I'm a sucker for historical fiction like this, and while nothing is ever 100% accurate.. (nor do I expect it to be, so inaccuracies really take nothing away from a story for me, this is meant to be enjoyed, not critiqued).
Anyway what really makes this story is Robyn. She's fun!
But it turns out to be a pretty interesting story. I'm a sucker for historical fiction like this, and while nothing is ever 100% accurate.. (nor do I expect it to be, so inaccuracies really take nothing away from a story for me, this is meant to be enjoyed, not critiqued).
Anyway what really makes this story is Robyn. She's fun!
September 3, 2009
I grabbed this on a whim at the library. The verdict - meh. The characters are fairly flat and one dimensional. The heroine is kind of annoying and flighty. And soooo loved by everyone she mets. But my biggest problem is the fact that Robyn's fooling around with Edward, future king of England. One thing that worked for the Gabaldon books is that the time travelling woman hooks up with a nobody in the past. I know how Edward's story ends. Anyway, I won't be reading on in the series.
January 13, 2010
I really liked this book a lot, alhtough parts of it were just plain boring and it did take me awhile to get through the book. I wasn't as interested in the historical aspect of the book and found myself sort of just glimpsing through the really long descpriptions of places and history facts. But I loved all the time travel and witch craft stuff, and I loved the love story. I will def continue to read the trilogy.
November 30, 2011
I'd give it a strong 2.5 stars. Mostly, I was annoyed with the heroine for running around 15th century England telling everyone she knows all about health clubs and the internet, and wearing a digital watch. Any self-respecting Middle Ager would've locked the poor daft soul away, or at least declared her watch to be a result of demonic forces, rather than helping and adoring her. I mean, really.
August 14, 2008
A pretty good book that kept me interested. It was kind of your typical "gal gets thrown back into the Middle Ages" type story, but it puts the gal, Robyn Stafford, right in the middle of the War of the Roses. Of course, it falls into historical fiction, and British at that, so I had to get it and see what it was all about.
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June 10, 2009Here's the thing about most time travel romances that really bugs me--the time traveler (especially from present to past) would not admit to all and sundry that they are from the future and then describe things like cars. They would be locked up as a crazy. I was enjoying the book until she went back in time with her watch and everyone just seemed to accept it. Couldn't do it and put it down.
August 3, 2011
an good novel, interesting enough to be worth reading. Time traveling and historical fiction. The combination makes the main character more relateable, but the story isn't as complex or engrossing as other stories using time traveling (such as the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon or Connie Willis novels).
October 9, 2010
So I checked this book out because it was touted on the cover as being in the tradition of the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon. Not even close! I thought the characters were shallow, unbelievable, and rather boring. Additionally I could have avoided the whole witchcraft theme. Even with a witchcraft theme it simply wasn't palpable. I'll stick with Gabaldon anytime.
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