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A barracks full of beautiful boys. A girl in disguise, living among them.
It’s the 14th century, and the longbow is king. But in the northern European principality of Ardennes, archery isn’t just the nation’s defense. It’s the national obsession.
MEET THE JOURNEYS
12 young Journeyman archers, the best in the country
2 years of public competitions, in which looks count almost as much as ability
6 will win a coveted membership in the Archers’ Guild of St. Sebastian
1 will become the prince’s new Guardsman
MEET MARIEKE
15-year-old Marieke is as obsessed with St. Sebastian’s as everyone else in Ardennes. Only it’s the middle ages, and girls just don’t become elite archers. Except Marieke's prospects as a girl aren't promising either, after a well-timed kick from a mule has left her with a face that’s badly scarred and ruined for marriage. But when circumstances force her to leave her old life behind and flee to the guild for refuge, there are only two things Marieke really knows about the place. One is that a mysterious accident ended her own father’s time as a Journey. The other?
There are no women allowed inside St. Sebastian’s.
Marieke knows disguising herself as a boy and infiltrating the guild means embarking on a dangerous deception. But it may be her only chance to find out the truth about her father’s past and to stop a murderous plot from coming to fruition. When the dashing young Journeyman Tristan takes her under his wing as his squire, she’s got to stay – at least long enough to help him beat out his brutal arch-rival to win the competitions.
Keeping her identity a secret will be hard. Living in close quarters with a pack of gorgeous boys? That will be harder still. But the hardest thing of all will be keeping the vow she makes for herself: to see Tristan become the next Guardsman, without ever letting him find out she’s a girl - a girl, who loves him.
Part Robin Hood and part Princess Bride, with a pinch of Mulan and a dash of Cyrano de Bergerac in the mix, The Archers of St. Sebastian I: Journeys is a humorous action and adventure saga inspired by late medieval/early Renaissance Belgium and packed with romance, wit, and longbow archery. Perfect for adults who love young adult themes, Journeys is an escape into the past that reads more like romantic historical fantasy than pure historical fiction.
Unrequited love? Ugly heroines who stay ugly? Friendship, coming of age, romance, adventure, and plenty of archery competitions? A unique setting inspired by the glorious city of Bruges, with a richly imagined, immersive world set within the walls of a male-only archers' guild? Journeys: The Archers of Saint Sebastian has it all, so if you're looking for a great escape, don your disguise and join Marieke as she enters the forbidden world of Saint Sebastian's, and prepare to fall in love with the Journeys - that is, the twelve best and most beautiful archers in all of Ardennes, the Journeyman archers of St. Sebastian's.
It’s the 14th century, and the longbow is king. But in the northern European principality of Ardennes, archery isn’t just the nation’s defense. It’s the national obsession.
MEET THE JOURNEYS
12 young Journeyman archers, the best in the country
2 years of public competitions, in which looks count almost as much as ability
6 will win a coveted membership in the Archers’ Guild of St. Sebastian
1 will become the prince’s new Guardsman
MEET MARIEKE
15-year-old Marieke is as obsessed with St. Sebastian’s as everyone else in Ardennes. Only it’s the middle ages, and girls just don’t become elite archers. Except Marieke's prospects as a girl aren't promising either, after a well-timed kick from a mule has left her with a face that’s badly scarred and ruined for marriage. But when circumstances force her to leave her old life behind and flee to the guild for refuge, there are only two things Marieke really knows about the place. One is that a mysterious accident ended her own father’s time as a Journey. The other?
There are no women allowed inside St. Sebastian’s.
Marieke knows disguising herself as a boy and infiltrating the guild means embarking on a dangerous deception. But it may be her only chance to find out the truth about her father’s past and to stop a murderous plot from coming to fruition. When the dashing young Journeyman Tristan takes her under his wing as his squire, she’s got to stay – at least long enough to help him beat out his brutal arch-rival to win the competitions.
Keeping her identity a secret will be hard. Living in close quarters with a pack of gorgeous boys? That will be harder still. But the hardest thing of all will be keeping the vow she makes for herself: to see Tristan become the next Guardsman, without ever letting him find out she’s a girl - a girl, who loves him.
Part Robin Hood and part Princess Bride, with a pinch of Mulan and a dash of Cyrano de Bergerac in the mix, The Archers of St. Sebastian I: Journeys is a humorous action and adventure saga inspired by late medieval/early Renaissance Belgium and packed with romance, wit, and longbow archery. Perfect for adults who love young adult themes, Journeys is an escape into the past that reads more like romantic historical fantasy than pure historical fiction.
Unrequited love? Ugly heroines who stay ugly? Friendship, coming of age, romance, adventure, and plenty of archery competitions? A unique setting inspired by the glorious city of Bruges, with a richly imagined, immersive world set within the walls of a male-only archers' guild? Journeys: The Archers of Saint Sebastian has it all, so if you're looking for a great escape, don your disguise and join Marieke as she enters the forbidden world of Saint Sebastian's, and prepare to fall in love with the Journeys - that is, the twelve best and most beautiful archers in all of Ardennes, the Journeyman archers of St. Sebastian's.
644 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2021
About the author
Jeanne Roland
7 books98 followersRoland hails from Davis, California, where she spent most of her youth lounging at the pool, soaking up the sun, and daydreaming. She had a key ring that read 'I’m running away to join the circus,' and her favorite moment of the day was when the local movie theater went dark, and the slogan 'escape to the movies' appeared on the screen. As an adult, her passions include all things melodramatic and beautiful — everything from classic movies, British romantic poetry, ancient tragedy and epic, to Italian opera. She is now a professor of Classics in a small midwestern town, where she lives with her Greek husband, her fraternal twins, and a Bernese mountain dog named Franco Corelli.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 9, 2022
Since the death of her mother and brother, fifteen year old Marieke has helped her father make arrows as a fletcher in 14th Century Belgium. An accident with a mule has scarred her face and Marieke knows her prospects for marriage are low. Marieke begins dressing in her brother's clothes and putting more effort into fletching. After a trip to her father's former guild, St. Sebastian's, Marieke becomes obsessed with the Journeys. Twelve Journeys are the top archers in the area and compete for six spots in the guild. However, Marieke and her father's visit proves dangerous as a guild member finds her father and causes Marieke to flee. Marieke shears her hair, and in her brother's clothes becomes Marek. She makes her way to St. Sebastian's where she is found huddled outside the entrance. Marek initially taunted, but Journey Tristan makes Marek his squire. No girls are allowed at St. Sebastian's, so Marek embraces being a boy and attempts to be the best squire he can be and get is determined to get Tristan through all three levels of the competition. Tristan treats Marek as a little brother, but complications arise with Marek living among twelve Journeys and their squires. As their friendship grows, Tristan even helps Marek look into the mystery of his father; but how long can Marek live as a boy and keep a secret from the people he now calls family?
I was absolutely taken with Journeys! I could not put this book down and constantly needed to know what would happen next. Journeys is an atmospheric, heartfelt and intense historical fiction set in Medieval Belgium. I was enthralled with everything archery from fletching to form and butts to clouts. I loved the camaraderie of the Journeys and squires even among the competition. I knew I would love Marieke from the beginning, she was strong willed, outspoken and determined. All of the characters were strongly written, even with twelve different Journeys and their squires to keep track of. I liked that Marieke was true to a fifteen year old girl; she made mistakes, ran her mouth and desperately wanted to do what she loved. I was amazed that Marieke was able to embrace her identity as Marek and enjoyed seeing Marek grow, learn and forge new relationships with the brotherhood of the Journeys and squires. Within her role, Marek was able to form a new family for herself. Marek's relationships with Tristan, Taran and some of the squires were the most interesting aspects to explore. Her opinions grew and changed and she got to know them and decided how she would use her time at St. Sebastian's. The mystery of Marieke's father was compelling and was kept as an undercurrent throughout the entire story. This keeps Marek at St. Sebastian's and hidden as a boy as well as fuels Marek's need to get Tristan through the competitions. I couldn't believe the action packed ending and want to dive into the next book as soon as it is out!
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I was absolutely taken with Journeys! I could not put this book down and constantly needed to know what would happen next. Journeys is an atmospheric, heartfelt and intense historical fiction set in Medieval Belgium. I was enthralled with everything archery from fletching to form and butts to clouts. I loved the camaraderie of the Journeys and squires even among the competition. I knew I would love Marieke from the beginning, she was strong willed, outspoken and determined. All of the characters were strongly written, even with twelve different Journeys and their squires to keep track of. I liked that Marieke was true to a fifteen year old girl; she made mistakes, ran her mouth and desperately wanted to do what she loved. I was amazed that Marieke was able to embrace her identity as Marek and enjoyed seeing Marek grow, learn and forge new relationships with the brotherhood of the Journeys and squires. Within her role, Marek was able to form a new family for herself. Marek's relationships with Tristan, Taran and some of the squires were the most interesting aspects to explore. Her opinions grew and changed and she got to know them and decided how she would use her time at St. Sebastian's. The mystery of Marieke's father was compelling and was kept as an undercurrent throughout the entire story. This keeps Marek at St. Sebastian's and hidden as a boy as well as fuels Marek's need to get Tristan through the competitions. I couldn't believe the action packed ending and want to dive into the next book as soon as it is out!
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
November 10, 2021
This book was fabulous! I couldn’t put it down. All of the characters were so well-drawn and distinctive, and likeable in an imperfect way. This story has it all--a heroine to root for, intrigue, romance, humor, archery, and swoon-worthy boys. What more could you ask for, besides more from Jeanne Roland?
I was immediately drawn into the details of Marieke’s world and her obvious love for archery. Roland builds up the mystery of Marieke’s father’s time at the guild, while establishing Marieke’s struggles with the limitations of being a girl at that time. But when Marieke reaches the guild, the story really takes off, as we meet all the gorgeous, but also loveable and at times irritating boys-bordering on men competing to become a Journey. Sometimes you really feel for Marieke, and sometimes you just have to laugh at what comes out of her mouth.
I loved that this book is funny and has characters you can get behind, even though it also has all the tension of a book that centers around a competition. I definitely got obsessed with the various Journeys—Gilles, magnificent fashion sense, Falko, laughed every time he entered a scene, Charles and Jerome, love them! And of course Tristan is Tristan. Please take off his shirt more. Even the more villainous Journeys were intriguing. The archery scenes were equally fantastic! This book will appeal to both YA and adult readers. It’s one of those books that makes you keep thinking about the characters after it’s over.
I was immediately drawn into the details of Marieke’s world and her obvious love for archery. Roland builds up the mystery of Marieke’s father’s time at the guild, while establishing Marieke’s struggles with the limitations of being a girl at that time. But when Marieke reaches the guild, the story really takes off, as we meet all the gorgeous, but also loveable and at times irritating boys-bordering on men competing to become a Journey. Sometimes you really feel for Marieke, and sometimes you just have to laugh at what comes out of her mouth.
I loved that this book is funny and has characters you can get behind, even though it also has all the tension of a book that centers around a competition. I definitely got obsessed with the various Journeys—Gilles, magnificent fashion sense, Falko, laughed every time he entered a scene, Charles and Jerome, love them! And of course Tristan is Tristan. Please take off his shirt more. Even the more villainous Journeys were intriguing. The archery scenes were equally fantastic! This book will appeal to both YA and adult readers. It’s one of those books that makes you keep thinking about the characters after it’s over.
December 8, 2021
I was enthralled from start to finish and was completely devastated to learn this was a new release with no sequel in sight. If you are a fan of Tamora Pierce books, books about realistically kick ass female heroines disguising themselves as male getting shit done and/or well fleshed out secondary characters this is the book for you!
December 17, 2021
Don't pass this one by...
I seldom give 5 stars, but imo it's deserved here. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and now going to look for the next in the series. Reminds me of a book I read ~40 years ago...girl, disguised as boy, becomes squire to Richard the Lionhearted during the Crusades.
Very good character descriptions, I could see each one of them. Main character isn't an achingly beautiful girl, but rather one who has been through physical disfigurement and emotional loss. Unrequited love, humor, secrets and intrigue.
Not gory, no steamy sex (not much, lol), pretty clean language. I'd have loved this when I was 14 or 15, and enjoyed it at 49! Always been a sucker for this type of story. Enjoy!
I seldom give 5 stars, but imo it's deserved here. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and now going to look for the next in the series. Reminds me of a book I read ~40 years ago...girl, disguised as boy, becomes squire to Richard the Lionhearted during the Crusades.
Very good character descriptions, I could see each one of them. Main character isn't an achingly beautiful girl, but rather one who has been through physical disfigurement and emotional loss. Unrequited love, humor, secrets and intrigue.
Not gory, no steamy sex (not much, lol), pretty clean language. I'd have loved this when I was 14 or 15, and enjoyed it at 49! Always been a sucker for this type of story. Enjoy!
November 10, 2021
This eloquently written, action-packed book appeals to readers of all ages, from young adult to adult. I couldn’t put this book down! The characters are dynamic (Falko might quite possibly be the best character ever written), and Roland is a master of tension and drama; the relationships Roland creates are interesting and compelling. Love triangle, check; steamy romances, check; gorgeous men, check, check, check. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t say the ending is to die for! I love the symbolism of the hawk and the mouse! Needless to say, I will be buying the sequel! Can’t wait!
September 3, 2025
I cannot say enough good things about this book! The plot, the characters, and the world Jeanne Roland created--all brilliant. I'm completely invested in this series, and the characters are now my friends! I can't wait to read the other books in the series! A must-read! I highly recommend it!
September 9, 2026
Really nice to read a book that’s genuinely a nice intriguing adventure, with characters written actually age appropriately for once.
October 27, 2024
Ms Roland's book is epic—a tragic story of love, desire and loyalty. Though the settings are fictional and set in the medieval 14th century Belgium, Ms Roland has created a rich world, a tapestry of the times.
As a history and geography enthusiast, I wish I had first read her notes at the end of the book, which explained some of her choices of fictional choices and the occasional use of American vernacular that would appeal to her younger readers.
Once you accept those choices, the book flows beautifully and presents a timeless story involving a school for skilled archers where heated competition doesn't exclude the formation of deep and meaningful friendships between the young men and their squires unless you are the only woman disguised in a decidedly male enclave.
This book is well worth going on the Journey, and I highly recommend this book.
As a history and geography enthusiast, I wish I had first read her notes at the end of the book, which explained some of her choices of fictional choices and the occasional use of American vernacular that would appeal to her younger readers.
Once you accept those choices, the book flows beautifully and presents a timeless story involving a school for skilled archers where heated competition doesn't exclude the formation of deep and meaningful friendships between the young men and their squires unless you are the only woman disguised in a decidedly male enclave.
This book is well worth going on the Journey, and I highly recommend this book.
August 26, 2022
What an excellent story! I felt the heroine was well written, and I loved the complex characters that Ms. Roland created. I do feel that Marieke does have great character growth by the end of the book. I see this as a coming of age book, and how Marieke deals with the misfortunes that have been dealt to her as the book progresses. I'm excited for the second book in this series. I definitely recommend this book and author!
August 4, 2025
Great characters, writing that is refreshingly clear and better than you'd expect, and incredibly good fun. I was rooting for so many different characters at once. A page-turner that I'm surprised more people don't know about!
July 31, 2026
It's been so long since I've read a book that I couldn't put down, and I was beginning to think I had just aged out of the ability to do so. I'm glad I was wrong! This was such a fun read. The setting was my favorite part - an archery guild makes for such an exciting, unique story. There were a ton of mysteries throughout to keep me hooked (even the ending - I'll be picking up the sequel ASAP). The discourse around gender roles, gender itself, fraternity, etc was a really compelling undercurrent to the story, if you can call it an undercurrent, considering it's literally about a girl disguised in a male-only space. My only negative was that the YA styling got tiresome at times, but that's not the book's fault - it is advertised as YA, after all.
August 16, 2024
Journeys by Jeanne Roland is a spectacular read. It's imaginative, has a roller coaster plot and characters that you can't help get attached to.
Journeys takes you into a sacred and secretive world of archery in the guild of St Sebastian and from there on its an amazing ride.
Jeanne Roland's writing has a way of transporting you right into the moment with the characters. I especially love the way she took a character initially portrayed as negative and then gave him shades of gray such that he became a favorite of mine. I'm disinclined to reveal anything about the plot other than saying that I truly enjoyed this book and I've already downloaded the next in the series. 5 fabulous stars for this one
Journeys takes you into a sacred and secretive world of archery in the guild of St Sebastian and from there on its an amazing ride.
Jeanne Roland's writing has a way of transporting you right into the moment with the characters. I especially love the way she took a character initially portrayed as negative and then gave him shades of gray such that he became a favorite of mine. I'm disinclined to reveal anything about the plot other than saying that I truly enjoyed this book and I've already downloaded the next in the series. 5 fabulous stars for this one
November 29, 2024
“Of course everything isn’t possible! Most things aren’t, actually. And of the things that are possible, most aren’t probable, either. The sooner you accept that, the happier you’ll be. I have no patience for wasting time pining over impossibilities. But that shouldn’t stop you from going for the things that are just possible.”
Wow. Hats off to Jeanne Roland for writing a 620+ page story that absolutely flew by. Many of the chapters are structured with an episodic flair that keeps the story gliding forward as smoothly as one of Tristan’s arrows! More than a few times, I found myself daydreaming about the alternate universe in which this book was turned into a tv series because it would be a great fit for one. A girl can dream!
Over 600 pages is a lot of time to spend with these characters, but they’re written so well that they continue to find ways to surprise you (Taran being a personal favorite of mine). There’s so much I could write about this story, but I’ll try to distill the main things that worked for me as a reader, as well as a few things that didn’t.
Like I mentioned above, the episodic nature of the story really works in its favor. I knew a chapter was going to be good when Marieke started out with something like, “I knew Tristan was crazy, but I didn’t know he was this crazy.” What proceeded almost always delivered, and you get to see Marieke and the Journeys in all manner of situations humorous, dramatic, and touching that really fleshes them out. We go a long way from her first impression of them as a “bunch of fops, thugs, and bullies.”
As part of their training at St. Sebastian’s, the Journeys have to compete in three competitions that end with two of them eliminated at each (as well as their squires), and you’re sorry to see them go. There’s never a moment when Marieke or Tristan feel too comfortable about their odds of succeeding, and the tension is high. They’re up against the best of the best, and their friendship and camaraderie is tested as they find ways to deal with each potential career-ending obstacle that manifests both on and off the field. And speaking of Marieke and Tristan…
I loved watching their bond develop throughout the book. As is clear from the blurb on the back, Marieke’s feelings for Tristan are more than platonic, but that doesn't detract from their friendship (though it does add a hearty dose of angst to their dynamic). But in truth, friendship–between all the Journeys–is really at the core of this story. As a squire in disguise, Marieke gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the premiere archery school in all of Ardennes, and she’s determined to make the most of it. She also gets the chance to form friendships with the Journeys that she wouldn’t have otherwise, and there’s a constant underlying thread of melancholy at the unavoidable truth that this can’t last forever.
And more than that, there’s another looming specter to contend with: Marieke can’t possibly go back to her old life after experiencing the world as a boy attending St. Sebastian’s.
“What would be possible for me as a girl, now? I could be a kitchen maid, if I’m lucky, or more likely, a drudge in a field. Even if by some miracle I could be a girl as privileged and lovely as Melissande, how could I stand to sit in the bleachers and watch the boys compete, when I’ve been out there with them myself?”
It's a really compelling situation, made all the more so by how well-written Marieke is. She’s not perfect by any means: she makes mistakes, has her moments of pettiness, nosiness, mean-spiritedness. But all of that is balanced by a good sense of humor, tenacity, stubbornness, quick-wittedness, and empathy. She’s had a lot of hard knocks in life by the time she’s only 15, and because of them, she’s become really good at rolling with the punches:
“Life is a shower of arrows. You just have to take them. But sometimes, you can find a way to survive even a mortal wound.”
Marieke’s easy to root for, and you really want to see her catch a few breaks. And she does. The highs are really high, and I could see (and hear) these cinematic moments of triumph in my head so clearly.
Now, all that being said, there are a few things that didn’t work so well for me.
Cue the subplot dealing with Marieke’s father’s murder. It wasn’t developed well enough in my opinion for something so central to her story. It’s mixed in with a political intrigue subplot, and it had a lot of potential, but even I ended up forgetting about it for long periods of time because the story forgets about it. Whenever it was brought back up, it was a bit jarring. I’d think, “Huh, that’s right. Marieke’s dad was murdered. Shouldn’t we be spending more time trying to suss that out?”
Marieke explains her lack of investigative initiative by saying she’s not ready to come to terms with or think about what happened to her dad, which I understand. But then later, she insists that revealing what happened to her dad is one of the main reasons she fled to St. Seb’s in the first place. I get what the story was trying to convey: Marieke herself is not even sure of her motivations at times. She's confused and overwhelmed. Even so, I couldn't help but feel this indecision was more of a convenience than an intentional choice, so that the story could spend more time focusing on the archery and relationship aspects.
With the slew of sudden revelations revealed at the end, things felt a bit contrived. The ending plot reveal would have made a bigger impact (and been more believable) if Marieke had made a more concerted effort to gather information on the sly during her time at St. Sebastian’s; she’s stubborn and reckless enough to do it. Yes, she’s heckin busy as a squire, but I think some of her shenanigans with the Journeys could have been swapped out for some sleuthing. Maybe I had the wrong expectations coming into the book, but I was a little disappointed with the way that played out. I’m excited (and hopeful) to see if it’s a bigger focus in the next book!
The other aspect that pulled me out of the story concerns some of the prose and dialogue. It’s very modern-sounding at times. Don’t get me wrong, Roland is a great writer, and if this was a novel set in a more contemporary period, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But it’s set in 14th-century Belgium. Obviously, it’s unreasonable to expect zero anachronisms in your story, and that’s not what Roland was going for, anyway. As she writes in her ending note:
“I have endeavored to avoid glaring anachronism in the telling of my tale whenever possible, and to present an image of medieval archery that is detailed and compelling. But I have also taken it as my guiding principle that the needs of storytelling should always trump the demands of strict historical accuracy, and so I hope I can be forgiven if on occasion I have stretched the truth a little.”
I absolutely agree with her there, and in my opinion, she largely succeeded at her goal. It’s just… really quite jarring to see words like “porn” or read phrases like “he scrolled through the list,” or “I literally couldn’t do it!” in a historical fiction like this. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but it did snag my attention.
Clearly, I really enjoyed Journeys, as evidenced by all my yappin (and I could have written more, a lot more). It gave me that bittersweet feeling you come to at the end of a great story, only soothed by the knowledge that there are not one, but two! more books in the series already published. During the last chapter, I had to physically place my hand on the page to stop my eyes from darting too far forward in my excitement, and the final sentence of the book is p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Roland found the perfect phrase to end the story on, no contest.
You should read it to see why :)
Wow. Hats off to Jeanne Roland for writing a 620+ page story that absolutely flew by. Many of the chapters are structured with an episodic flair that keeps the story gliding forward as smoothly as one of Tristan’s arrows! More than a few times, I found myself daydreaming about the alternate universe in which this book was turned into a tv series because it would be a great fit for one. A girl can dream!
Over 600 pages is a lot of time to spend with these characters, but they’re written so well that they continue to find ways to surprise you (Taran being a personal favorite of mine). There’s so much I could write about this story, but I’ll try to distill the main things that worked for me as a reader, as well as a few things that didn’t.
Like I mentioned above, the episodic nature of the story really works in its favor. I knew a chapter was going to be good when Marieke started out with something like, “I knew Tristan was crazy, but I didn’t know he was this crazy.” What proceeded almost always delivered, and you get to see Marieke and the Journeys in all manner of situations humorous, dramatic, and touching that really fleshes them out. We go a long way from her first impression of them as a “bunch of fops, thugs, and bullies.”
As part of their training at St. Sebastian’s, the Journeys have to compete in three competitions that end with two of them eliminated at each (as well as their squires), and you’re sorry to see them go. There’s never a moment when Marieke or Tristan feel too comfortable about their odds of succeeding, and the tension is high. They’re up against the best of the best, and their friendship and camaraderie is tested as they find ways to deal with each potential career-ending obstacle that manifests both on and off the field. And speaking of Marieke and Tristan…
I loved watching their bond develop throughout the book. As is clear from the blurb on the back, Marieke’s feelings for Tristan are more than platonic, but that doesn't detract from their friendship (though it does add a hearty dose of angst to their dynamic). But in truth, friendship–between all the Journeys–is really at the core of this story. As a squire in disguise, Marieke gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the premiere archery school in all of Ardennes, and she’s determined to make the most of it. She also gets the chance to form friendships with the Journeys that she wouldn’t have otherwise, and there’s a constant underlying thread of melancholy at the unavoidable truth that this can’t last forever.
And more than that, there’s another looming specter to contend with: Marieke can’t possibly go back to her old life after experiencing the world as a boy attending St. Sebastian’s.
“What would be possible for me as a girl, now? I could be a kitchen maid, if I’m lucky, or more likely, a drudge in a field. Even if by some miracle I could be a girl as privileged and lovely as Melissande, how could I stand to sit in the bleachers and watch the boys compete, when I’ve been out there with them myself?”
It's a really compelling situation, made all the more so by how well-written Marieke is. She’s not perfect by any means: she makes mistakes, has her moments of pettiness, nosiness, mean-spiritedness. But all of that is balanced by a good sense of humor, tenacity, stubbornness, quick-wittedness, and empathy. She’s had a lot of hard knocks in life by the time she’s only 15, and because of them, she’s become really good at rolling with the punches:
“Life is a shower of arrows. You just have to take them. But sometimes, you can find a way to survive even a mortal wound.”
Marieke’s easy to root for, and you really want to see her catch a few breaks. And she does. The highs are really high, and I could see (and hear) these cinematic moments of triumph in my head so clearly.
Now, all that being said, there are a few things that didn’t work so well for me.
Cue the subplot dealing with Marieke’s father’s murder. It wasn’t developed well enough in my opinion for something so central to her story. It’s mixed in with a political intrigue subplot, and it had a lot of potential, but even I ended up forgetting about it for long periods of time because the story forgets about it. Whenever it was brought back up, it was a bit jarring. I’d think, “Huh, that’s right. Marieke’s dad was murdered. Shouldn’t we be spending more time trying to suss that out?”
Marieke explains her lack of investigative initiative by saying she’s not ready to come to terms with or think about what happened to her dad, which I understand. But then later, she insists that revealing what happened to her dad is one of the main reasons she fled to St. Seb’s in the first place. I get what the story was trying to convey: Marieke herself is not even sure of her motivations at times. She's confused and overwhelmed. Even so, I couldn't help but feel this indecision was more of a convenience than an intentional choice, so that the story could spend more time focusing on the archery and relationship aspects.
With the slew of sudden revelations revealed at the end, things felt a bit contrived. The ending plot reveal would have made a bigger impact (and been more believable) if Marieke had made a more concerted effort to gather information on the sly during her time at St. Sebastian’s; she’s stubborn and reckless enough to do it. Yes, she’s heckin busy as a squire, but I think some of her shenanigans with the Journeys could have been swapped out for some sleuthing. Maybe I had the wrong expectations coming into the book, but I was a little disappointed with the way that played out. I’m excited (and hopeful) to see if it’s a bigger focus in the next book!
The other aspect that pulled me out of the story concerns some of the prose and dialogue. It’s very modern-sounding at times. Don’t get me wrong, Roland is a great writer, and if this was a novel set in a more contemporary period, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But it’s set in 14th-century Belgium. Obviously, it’s unreasonable to expect zero anachronisms in your story, and that’s not what Roland was going for, anyway. As she writes in her ending note:
“I have endeavored to avoid glaring anachronism in the telling of my tale whenever possible, and to present an image of medieval archery that is detailed and compelling. But I have also taken it as my guiding principle that the needs of storytelling should always trump the demands of strict historical accuracy, and so I hope I can be forgiven if on occasion I have stretched the truth a little.”
I absolutely agree with her there, and in my opinion, she largely succeeded at her goal. It’s just… really quite jarring to see words like “porn” or read phrases like “he scrolled through the list,” or “I literally couldn’t do it!” in a historical fiction like this. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but it did snag my attention.
Clearly, I really enjoyed Journeys, as evidenced by all my yappin (and I could have written more, a lot more). It gave me that bittersweet feeling you come to at the end of a great story, only soothed by the knowledge that there are not one, but two! more books in the series already published. During the last chapter, I had to physically place my hand on the page to stop my eyes from darting too far forward in my excitement, and the final sentence of the book is p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Roland found the perfect phrase to end the story on, no contest.
You should read it to see why :)
February 2, 2022
Must Read Modern Telling of Historical Period
Journeys by Jeanne Roland really captured my interest and brought me into the 14th century time period. The characters in the story are lovable, easy to relate to and realistic, full of personality quirks and foibles. Not only could I identify with the main character, but I was able to place myself in other characters viewpoints, as someone with brothers / male cousins of a sporting nature. The simultaneous camaraderie and competitive nature of the Journeys and Squires are well portrayed. Likewise, the setting is beautifully described, giving you enough detail to imagine the time and place without intruding into the story.
Roland strikes the right balance of mystery, introspection, romance, loyalty and friendship while portray the coming of age not only of the 15 year old girl at the heart of the story, but the older Journeys and younger Squires also. while I am purchasing a physical copy of the book to loan to my friends! I cannot wait for the next installment in the series! Definitely a modern tale worthy of reading for both sports fans and historical fans, almost a modern Camelot, Canterbury Tales, or other similar story.
While I originally received a free copy of the Kindle book from the author in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed the story enough that I bought a physical copy to share with friends!
Journeys by Jeanne Roland really captured my interest and brought me into the 14th century time period. The characters in the story are lovable, easy to relate to and realistic, full of personality quirks and foibles. Not only could I identify with the main character, but I was able to place myself in other characters viewpoints, as someone with brothers / male cousins of a sporting nature. The simultaneous camaraderie and competitive nature of the Journeys and Squires are well portrayed. Likewise, the setting is beautifully described, giving you enough detail to imagine the time and place without intruding into the story.
Roland strikes the right balance of mystery, introspection, romance, loyalty and friendship while portray the coming of age not only of the 15 year old girl at the heart of the story, but the older Journeys and younger Squires also. while I am purchasing a physical copy of the book to loan to my friends! I cannot wait for the next installment in the series! Definitely a modern tale worthy of reading for both sports fans and historical fans, almost a modern Camelot, Canterbury Tales, or other similar story.
While I originally received a free copy of the Kindle book from the author in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed the story enough that I bought a physical copy to share with friends!
April 26, 2022
This is a wonderful debut book by an author with a knack for crafting great characters. It feels like a blend of Mulan meets Twelfth Night using the tournament trope as the overarching plotline via archery. But it’s the characters themselves that always make you keep reading. It’s a pretty big cast, so not every character is developed to their fullest, but I would have to say that most of them make their mark on you in some capacity over the course of the story.
What I love about this particular book is that characters make justifiable choices based on their perspectives and personalities. It doesn’t mean they always made good choices, but I never felt like the more irrational decisions were shoehorned in for plot purposes. Which means you get a really nice blend of people coming to reasonable conclusions based on the information they had at the time. This is especially crucial for Marieke since everything is seen from her perspective. Your opinion of her deduction and reasoning skills adjusts as you go through the story and build your own conclusions about the other characters. Your opinion of Marieke grows and changes the more she builds relationships with the others.
I definitely recommend this one, and can’t wait for the next installment!
What I love about this particular book is that characters make justifiable choices based on their perspectives and personalities. It doesn’t mean they always made good choices, but I never felt like the more irrational decisions were shoehorned in for plot purposes. Which means you get a really nice blend of people coming to reasonable conclusions based on the information they had at the time. This is especially crucial for Marieke since everything is seen from her perspective. Your opinion of her deduction and reasoning skills adjusts as you go through the story and build your own conclusions about the other characters. Your opinion of Marieke grows and changes the more she builds relationships with the others.
I definitely recommend this one, and can’t wait for the next installment!
January 19, 2024
What won me were the characters with larger-than-life personalities inspired by famous swashbucklers: the Journeys. Elite young archers who compete for a place in the Royal Guard, who are not only skilled athletes but expert showmen. From the dashing Tristan with his roguish natural charm and taste for the dramatics, Gilles with his unmatched wit and flair, to the stoic likely champion Taran. I loved the banter and fraternal camaraderie between the Journeys, who are more than they let on.
This YA historical fiction doesn’t take itself too seriously: it’s set in a fictitious city and is full of anachronisms. It reads more like historical fantasy without the fantastic elements; I encourage YA fantasy fans to give it a try as they’ll find many familiar tropes to love.
Read my full review: Tiny Elf Arcanist's review of Journeys
This YA historical fiction doesn’t take itself too seriously: it’s set in a fictitious city and is full of anachronisms. It reads more like historical fantasy without the fantastic elements; I encourage YA fantasy fans to give it a try as they’ll find many familiar tropes to love.
Read my full review: Tiny Elf Arcanist's review of Journeys
June 21, 2022
The setting is not really my era, so I wasn’t sure I was going to get into this book at first, although the idea of a girl disguised as a boy did intrigue me. I’m glad I persevered, though, because I became caught up in the story as the relationships between the boys developed. If you enjoy historic fiction, this is well written and worth a read. Originally, I felt it was a longer read than I’m used to, but I ended up not wanting it to end. I was disappointed not to find out more about what happened to Marieke’s father. I guess that is a story for another book.
January 28, 2022
This is one of these books
That makes you eager to turn the pages to find out what's going to happen next, and at the same time you feel dreadful because you're running out of pages to read, I'm like a clingy girlfriend with this book, I don't want to let it go, please Jeanne Roland make haste with the next one!
That makes you eager to turn the pages to find out what's going to happen next, and at the same time you feel dreadful because you're running out of pages to read, I'm like a clingy girlfriend with this book, I don't want to let it go, please Jeanne Roland make haste with the next one!
December 19, 2021
Read in 2 days 😬
So I work and I have a family, but I couldn't stop reading. The characters are so fun to read. I think this is a great book and I can't wait to read the next one.
So I work and I have a family, but I couldn't stop reading. The characters are so fun to read. I think this is a great book and I can't wait to read the next one.
July 22, 2022
I finished this book a few hours ago. I’m still sort of sifting through my emotions and thoughts about it. Overall, while I thoroughly enjoyed it, there’s a number of things I just want to comment on.
One, this was a long book. I was expecting our main character, Marieke, to grow a bit more than she did. Obviously, she’s still a young teenage girl, but after nearly a year of a lot of stress and trauma, she doesn’t seem to grow emotionally. But the others around her do. She acts and speaks without thinking, which gets her into trouble many times. Her secret is nearly revealed too many times to count. Yet, she takes less and less care of keeping it even though the stakes get higher. She basically becomes so lustful that she’s nearly hooked up or otherwise becomes far too close to multiple men. Marieke also continually assumes things about folks or events and she is almost always wrong. But she never learns from this and continues to do so and then share them, causing her even more issues.
Then, there’s multiple mysteries, plots, and nefarious acts going on, which Marieke and the other boys don’t seem at all interested in solving them, either. I thought when Marieke gave the medal to Roxanne that something was going to happen - the murderer sees Roxanne wearing it and she’s killed. Or we get more of the reason why (spoilers) Marieke’s father was killed.
Another thing with Marieke - she says she’s in love with Tristan. But then she’s yearning for more of Taran’s touch, missing his stares, getting all hot and bothered with him. And, so, we think she’s grown out of her love for Tristan. But, then at the end, she seems like she’s back totally and absolutely in love with Tristan. Was that the point? For her to not know who she’s in love with? Is she in love with both of them?
I think the intended audience might be a bit younger. I’m in my 20s, so I’ve left behind the rashness, impetuousness, and fickleness of adolescence. And while I was fine, understanding even, of Marieke’s adolescent hallmarks, it began to grow tiring after a while because she wasn’t maturing. I feel like she’s essentially the same person that entered Saint Sebastian’s like a year prior.
While I loved the depth - the three events and competition, the well-defined characters of the Journeymen and their squires - it felt like it was wrapped up too soon with too few things answered. Especially for the length of the book, I was expecting more drama of stopping the assassination of the Prince. I was expecting more understanding of why they were doing it. Or more depth and understanding of why Marieke’s father was murdered. We’re given hints but there’s still far too few answers, or even lack of depth for the answers, for the length and otherwise painstaking detail of this book.
And while in some ways I’m glad she didn’t die at the end, I felt like that could have been very fitting. Personally, I think it could have worked rather well if all the mysteries were wrapped up, and then Marieke takes the arrow for Tristan and dies. She gets neither Tristan or Taran but she dies as close as she’ll likely ever be to being a Saint Sebastian’s archer, which was her dream and sort of her father’s - while also redeeming and fulfilling her family’s legacy.
Ok, now I’ve talked through the points I struggle with… I really did enjoy this book. Heroine disguises herself as a boy is my favorite trope. And the depth Roland has into the setting and individual characters is remarkable. And this can be said for most of the plot, especially as it relates to the archery and competitions. I loved the found family and relationships developed between the characters and found it to be very realistic and believable. I could totally visualize the setting, characters, and events as they happened. I wanted to run through the poppy fields, fall down laughing with Marieke and Tristan, and then go to the abandoned windmill that looked out over Saint Sebastian’s and the city below.
As someone who was also very struck by a painting of the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, I loved the heavy inclusion of him. I was rendered speechless and immobile while looking at “Saint Sebastian” (1623) by Gerrit van Honthorst, which is at the National Gallery in London. The painting is so sensual and it continually has me enraptured. I really related to Marieke and Tristan when they were both transfixed by the painting in Saint Sebastian’s.
Overall, I’m glad I found this book and will be awaiting the next installment. In the meantime, I will definitely recommend this book to others.
One, this was a long book. I was expecting our main character, Marieke, to grow a bit more than she did. Obviously, she’s still a young teenage girl, but after nearly a year of a lot of stress and trauma, she doesn’t seem to grow emotionally. But the others around her do. She acts and speaks without thinking, which gets her into trouble many times. Her secret is nearly revealed too many times to count. Yet, she takes less and less care of keeping it even though the stakes get higher. She basically becomes so lustful that she’s nearly hooked up or otherwise becomes far too close to multiple men. Marieke also continually assumes things about folks or events and she is almost always wrong. But she never learns from this and continues to do so and then share them, causing her even more issues.
Then, there’s multiple mysteries, plots, and nefarious acts going on, which Marieke and the other boys don’t seem at all interested in solving them, either. I thought when Marieke gave the medal to Roxanne that something was going to happen - the murderer sees Roxanne wearing it and she’s killed. Or we get more of the reason why (spoilers) Marieke’s father was killed.
Another thing with Marieke - she says she’s in love with Tristan. But then she’s yearning for more of Taran’s touch, missing his stares, getting all hot and bothered with him. And, so, we think she’s grown out of her love for Tristan. But, then at the end, she seems like she’s back totally and absolutely in love with Tristan. Was that the point? For her to not know who she’s in love with? Is she in love with both of them?
I think the intended audience might be a bit younger. I’m in my 20s, so I’ve left behind the rashness, impetuousness, and fickleness of adolescence. And while I was fine, understanding even, of Marieke’s adolescent hallmarks, it began to grow tiring after a while because she wasn’t maturing. I feel like she’s essentially the same person that entered Saint Sebastian’s like a year prior.
While I loved the depth - the three events and competition, the well-defined characters of the Journeymen and their squires - it felt like it was wrapped up too soon with too few things answered. Especially for the length of the book, I was expecting more drama of stopping the assassination of the Prince. I was expecting more understanding of why they were doing it. Or more depth and understanding of why Marieke’s father was murdered. We’re given hints but there’s still far too few answers, or even lack of depth for the answers, for the length and otherwise painstaking detail of this book.
And while in some ways I’m glad she didn’t die at the end, I felt like that could have been very fitting. Personally, I think it could have worked rather well if all the mysteries were wrapped up, and then Marieke takes the arrow for Tristan and dies. She gets neither Tristan or Taran but she dies as close as she’ll likely ever be to being a Saint Sebastian’s archer, which was her dream and sort of her father’s - while also redeeming and fulfilling her family’s legacy.
Ok, now I’ve talked through the points I struggle with… I really did enjoy this book. Heroine disguises herself as a boy is my favorite trope. And the depth Roland has into the setting and individual characters is remarkable. And this can be said for most of the plot, especially as it relates to the archery and competitions. I loved the found family and relationships developed between the characters and found it to be very realistic and believable. I could totally visualize the setting, characters, and events as they happened. I wanted to run through the poppy fields, fall down laughing with Marieke and Tristan, and then go to the abandoned windmill that looked out over Saint Sebastian’s and the city below.
As someone who was also very struck by a painting of the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, I loved the heavy inclusion of him. I was rendered speechless and immobile while looking at “Saint Sebastian” (1623) by Gerrit van Honthorst, which is at the National Gallery in London. The painting is so sensual and it continually has me enraptured. I really related to Marieke and Tristan when they were both transfixed by the painting in Saint Sebastian’s.
Overall, I’m glad I found this book and will be awaiting the next installment. In the meantime, I will definitely recommend this book to others.
March 16, 2026
Entertaining while educating
In all honesty I had this sitting in my TBR for quite a bit because the cover just wasn’t appealing to me (I know what you’re thinking, don’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest that most of us still do) but the story synopsis kept pulling me back to reconsider. I finally took the plunge and I don’t regret. The story was fascinating to me because who doesn’t love a good hidden identity story. I also felt this way, though, because I learned some cool new things about French medieval culture and practices. As a nurse, it was super cringy for me to read about how wounds were treated. No one washes their hands and when they did no soap was used, the “healer” was called a barber and he did everything from haircuts and shaves to tooth extraction, general surgery, and blood letting. Crazy! And honestly it’s no wonder so many people died from infections. In one scene he just picks up his knife of choice, wipes it on his sleeve to “clean” it, then uses it to open an infected wound for it to drain. Gah!😖 Anyway, enough about that.
The main character, Marieke, is a girl with a scarred face living during a time in history where other than marriage and housework there isn’t much use for women, especially an ugly one. When she witnesses the murder if her father she pulls a Mulan act by passing herself off as a boy to try and hide from the murderers who know her dad had a daughter. She ends up in an all boys archery school as a squire to one of boys, Tristan. She works to try and help him make it through three archery trials in order for him to become a master archer which is an incredible honor and prestigious title. She is still a teenage girl though and struggles with attraction to these boys, her own physical limitations, as well as working to overcome her internal struggles of valuing herself despite her physical imperfections.
The plot kept me invested although there were spots it would drag a bit when Marieke would have long introspective monologues. Overall though it was well paced. Sometimes her naïveté was a bit much and I would agree with one of the other boys when he would question her intelligence. I’d have to remind myself that she was still only 15. We can’t expect genius from essentially a moody teenager who has led a sheltered life and is now fully submerged in a beautiful boy paradise. She doesn’t really show too much growth until the end of the book though. I wish we could have seen her mature a bit more. Perhaps the next book.
Content warnings:
Sexual: 1.5/5 There is an accidental full skin contact boob grab (again, no one knows she’s a girl so it was innocently done). All of the characters have periods of nakedness like a boys locker room with bathing, dressing, undressing. FMC bathes alone in a pond then air dries and caresses her stomach and then grabs breast. Plenty of tension. Crude jokes alluded too but not described. Plenty of innuendo. Prostitutes are represented.
Violence: 2/5 Beatings, wounds, shot with arrows, murder, self harm, amputation
Profanity: 0/5
Substance use: 1/5 Everybody drinks because is normally safer than water. Instances of drunken behavior.
In all honesty I had this sitting in my TBR for quite a bit because the cover just wasn’t appealing to me (I know what you’re thinking, don’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest that most of us still do) but the story synopsis kept pulling me back to reconsider. I finally took the plunge and I don’t regret. The story was fascinating to me because who doesn’t love a good hidden identity story. I also felt this way, though, because I learned some cool new things about French medieval culture and practices. As a nurse, it was super cringy for me to read about how wounds were treated. No one washes their hands and when they did no soap was used, the “healer” was called a barber and he did everything from haircuts and shaves to tooth extraction, general surgery, and blood letting. Crazy! And honestly it’s no wonder so many people died from infections. In one scene he just picks up his knife of choice, wipes it on his sleeve to “clean” it, then uses it to open an infected wound for it to drain. Gah!😖 Anyway, enough about that.
The main character, Marieke, is a girl with a scarred face living during a time in history where other than marriage and housework there isn’t much use for women, especially an ugly one. When she witnesses the murder if her father she pulls a Mulan act by passing herself off as a boy to try and hide from the murderers who know her dad had a daughter. She ends up in an all boys archery school as a squire to one of boys, Tristan. She works to try and help him make it through three archery trials in order for him to become a master archer which is an incredible honor and prestigious title. She is still a teenage girl though and struggles with attraction to these boys, her own physical limitations, as well as working to overcome her internal struggles of valuing herself despite her physical imperfections.
The plot kept me invested although there were spots it would drag a bit when Marieke would have long introspective monologues. Overall though it was well paced. Sometimes her naïveté was a bit much and I would agree with one of the other boys when he would question her intelligence. I’d have to remind myself that she was still only 15. We can’t expect genius from essentially a moody teenager who has led a sheltered life and is now fully submerged in a beautiful boy paradise. She doesn’t really show too much growth until the end of the book though. I wish we could have seen her mature a bit more. Perhaps the next book.
Content warnings:
Sexual: 1.5/5 There is an accidental full skin contact boob grab (again, no one knows she’s a girl so it was innocently done). All of the characters have periods of nakedness like a boys locker room with bathing, dressing, undressing. FMC bathes alone in a pond then air dries and caresses her stomach and then grabs breast. Plenty of tension. Crude jokes alluded too but not described. Plenty of innuendo. Prostitutes are represented.
Violence: 2/5 Beatings, wounds, shot with arrows, murder, self harm, amputation
Profanity: 0/5
Substance use: 1/5 Everybody drinks because is normally safer than water. Instances of drunken behavior.
June 27, 2025
I gave this book two stars, which is almost unkind, since it maybe deserved three, but the flaws in the writing were a bit too glaring to go higher than 2.
The author does the best when building interesting dynamics between characters, which is why I kept reading. You genuinely root for Marek, and the camaraderie between the boys is touching.
Unfortunately, her world building is terrible. It felt like Saint Sebastians was the only glimmer of color in a world that was flat, and white. I did not understand what time period We were supposed to be in; The culture, customs, religion, Etc. So what, they pray to… Saints? Are they Christian? Is this a new religion I've never heard of? I don't believe I heard any mention of Mary, Jesus, or God, but there were monks, so...
Also, it's a bit amusing that author says she values characters over accuracy of the time period because there is no accuracy at all. Like, she kind of throws us a bone when she talks about "barbers" and "tunics" but that's where it ends. It's almost as though her editor told her to add those as an afterthought, so we didn't think that we were living in some sort of weird modern world that is cosplaying as a medieval fantasy.
Clearly, the author thought it was very important to develop characters (and spend pages, and pages, and pages on them having interactions,) so that it seemed the rest of the world around them was more or less nonexistent, except for maybe a windmill here, an unconvincing pub, some poppies there. I was disoriented the entire book, as the time in history was impossible to determine.
The culture, where there was any, was oddly permissive, yet cruel, simultaneously going on about cutting hands off in punishment, (although no one ever got punished, except for marek getting two tepid lashes) yet being totally cool with a flagrant homosexual relationship taking place right under their noses between a teacher and a student. Also, in terms of character building, I never really got the sense of the motives, and the drive behind each character. There were a few "bullies" that were antagonistic towards Marek at the beginning, but they sort of faded away and were completely uninteresting as adversaries.
And then there was the opposition that Marek herself faced. It was there, but, not? It's like the author sort of made a half assed effort to make it sound like the people running the school would object to being her being there, and that she kinda struggled as a squire, and then it was all fine and she was accepted and even thought of as skilled, even though she can't use a longbow which is the literally the ENTIRE REASON THE BOYS ARE ALL THERE.
I use the word "literally" deliberately, as the author actually has the balls to use it the same way, early in the book which almost made me stop reading it. Because...literally, who on earth was using that word colloquially in medieval times?
Fire your editor (I'm not a pro editor, but I could have saved this novel) make your books half as long, and actually build a world, and you'll do fine.
The author does the best when building interesting dynamics between characters, which is why I kept reading. You genuinely root for Marek, and the camaraderie between the boys is touching.
Unfortunately, her world building is terrible. It felt like Saint Sebastians was the only glimmer of color in a world that was flat, and white. I did not understand what time period We were supposed to be in; The culture, customs, religion, Etc. So what, they pray to… Saints? Are they Christian? Is this a new religion I've never heard of? I don't believe I heard any mention of Mary, Jesus, or God, but there were monks, so...
Also, it's a bit amusing that author says she values characters over accuracy of the time period because there is no accuracy at all. Like, she kind of throws us a bone when she talks about "barbers" and "tunics" but that's where it ends. It's almost as though her editor told her to add those as an afterthought, so we didn't think that we were living in some sort of weird modern world that is cosplaying as a medieval fantasy.
Clearly, the author thought it was very important to develop characters (and spend pages, and pages, and pages on them having interactions,) so that it seemed the rest of the world around them was more or less nonexistent, except for maybe a windmill here, an unconvincing pub, some poppies there. I was disoriented the entire book, as the time in history was impossible to determine.
The culture, where there was any, was oddly permissive, yet cruel, simultaneously going on about cutting hands off in punishment, (although no one ever got punished, except for marek getting two tepid lashes) yet being totally cool with a flagrant homosexual relationship taking place right under their noses between a teacher and a student. Also, in terms of character building, I never really got the sense of the motives, and the drive behind each character. There were a few "bullies" that were antagonistic towards Marek at the beginning, but they sort of faded away and were completely uninteresting as adversaries.
And then there was the opposition that Marek herself faced. It was there, but, not? It's like the author sort of made a half assed effort to make it sound like the people running the school would object to being her being there, and that she kinda struggled as a squire, and then it was all fine and she was accepted and even thought of as skilled, even though she can't use a longbow which is the literally the ENTIRE REASON THE BOYS ARE ALL THERE.
I use the word "literally" deliberately, as the author actually has the balls to use it the same way, early in the book which almost made me stop reading it. Because...literally, who on earth was using that word colloquially in medieval times?
Fire your editor (I'm not a pro editor, but I could have saved this novel) make your books half as long, and actually build a world, and you'll do fine.
May 6, 2023
If you know me, you know that one of my main gauges for engagement in a book is that the storytelling comes alive in my head like...well...a film. If a book manages to ignite my imagination in such a way that it's a panoramic, vivid "Vista Vision" epic, complete with memorable characters...that's a good read.
"Journeys: The Archers of Saint Sebastian, #1)" WAS that experience.
I'll admit this era and type of story has never been my "thing." But I'll confess, as a hyper visual person, the COVER was the first thing drawing me to the book. Paintings of Saint Sebastian have always fascinated me: the sensuality, the story behind the renderings, the tragedy. I was too intrigued by that cover and the synopsis NOT to read it.
I won't go into the plot, it's very well described in the blurb. But I WILL say, in regards to the plot, that---even until the very end---I truly thought I had the story figured out. It just SEEMED that way! I felt so smug, so brilliantly sure of where the story was headed, but the author surprised me over and over.
Roland is an Indie Author, and I give high praise to her writing: not only the prose, but the well-crafted story line, its MANY nail-biting-must-continue-to-read-to-the-next-scene moments!
Praise for the marvelously painted characters! These characters were a veritable high-quality cast of memorable, colorful, real-life, bursting-with-personality people!
Before meeting the archers, I had fallen hopelessly for young Marieke's father, Jan. A character, I admit, I'd love to have known more in depth. A character who, though only briefly in the story physically, was a powerful, poignant, proud, strong presence throughout this novel and who---for this reader---was pretty much THE force behind the tale.
Praise for the remarkable pageantry that the author portrayed in the setting! Like a spectacular mix of 'Ivanhoe', 'Robin Hood', 'Camelot', I, even after finishing the book, see the tents, the banners, the chapels, the castles, the archery fields, the woods, the old windmill, crests.
Praise for the (well, infuriating at times) ability to tease the reader through these fabulous characters. One (not going to say who) in particular, drew this reader to him and part of the battle was never really knowing exactly who/what he was: good guy or villain? For ME, the indecision I found myself facing was the result of a well-written character world.
EVERY character was a delight, no matter who they turned out to be by the end.
Praise for...damn! The ending! It was pure perfection. I did not see it coming, and it was brilliant. No way could I read THAT ending and NOT be compelled to read further into the next installment, Book 2?
Yes, Roland deserves high praise for this remarkable contribution to the the ranks of Indie Authors. A MASTERPIECE in every way. A MASTERPIECE that ranks among ALL beautifully-written books, right up there with the literary jewels of the masters.
I highly recommend.
"Journeys: The Archers of Saint Sebastian, #1)" WAS that experience.
I'll admit this era and type of story has never been my "thing." But I'll confess, as a hyper visual person, the COVER was the first thing drawing me to the book. Paintings of Saint Sebastian have always fascinated me: the sensuality, the story behind the renderings, the tragedy. I was too intrigued by that cover and the synopsis NOT to read it.
I won't go into the plot, it's very well described in the blurb. But I WILL say, in regards to the plot, that---even until the very end---I truly thought I had the story figured out. It just SEEMED that way! I felt so smug, so brilliantly sure of where the story was headed, but the author surprised me over and over.
Roland is an Indie Author, and I give high praise to her writing: not only the prose, but the well-crafted story line, its MANY nail-biting-must-continue-to-read-to-the-next-scene moments!
Praise for the marvelously painted characters! These characters were a veritable high-quality cast of memorable, colorful, real-life, bursting-with-personality people!
Before meeting the archers, I had fallen hopelessly for young Marieke's father, Jan. A character, I admit, I'd love to have known more in depth. A character who, though only briefly in the story physically, was a powerful, poignant, proud, strong presence throughout this novel and who---for this reader---was pretty much THE force behind the tale.
Praise for the remarkable pageantry that the author portrayed in the setting! Like a spectacular mix of 'Ivanhoe', 'Robin Hood', 'Camelot', I, even after finishing the book, see the tents, the banners, the chapels, the castles, the archery fields, the woods, the old windmill, crests.
Praise for the (well, infuriating at times) ability to tease the reader through these fabulous characters. One (not going to say who) in particular, drew this reader to him and part of the battle was never really knowing exactly who/what he was: good guy or villain? For ME, the indecision I found myself facing was the result of a well-written character world.
EVERY character was a delight, no matter who they turned out to be by the end.
Praise for...damn! The ending! It was pure perfection. I did not see it coming, and it was brilliant. No way could I read THAT ending and NOT be compelled to read further into the next installment, Book 2?
Yes, Roland deserves high praise for this remarkable contribution to the the ranks of Indie Authors. A MASTERPIECE in every way. A MASTERPIECE that ranks among ALL beautifully-written books, right up there with the literary jewels of the masters.
I highly recommend.
April 3, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed “Journeys – The Archers of Saint Sebastian” (Book 1), by Jeanne Roland. The author and the book came to my attention by way of a recommendation from a member of a writing community I’m involved with. It is a unique and charming tale.
By way of brief background, the story is set in the 14th century European (fictionalised) principality of Ardennes, in the archers’ Guild of Saint Sebastian. It follows the adventures of a young girl (Marieke) who finds herself, following personal misadventure, impersonating a boy amongst a group of Journeys (young men competing to be chosen for the Guild and the Black Guard) in an institution that strictly prohibits the presence of females.
At the outset, I will note that I am not an authority on medieval Europe and did not read the book expecting absolute historical accuracy. The author notes that “it would be more appropriate to say that the story was inspired by late medieval Belgium than that it actually takes place there”. At any rate, I am a fan of stories that require the suspension of disbelief, and I happily did so throughout my reading of this book.
Journeys is well-written, engaging and unique. Despite there being more key characters than I’m accustomed to, I felt invested in – and immensely fond of – each of them by the end of Book 1. It was quite a feat for the author to give so many characters personality and depth. I found myself enthralled by the lives of the Journeys and their squires and captivated by the beautifully complex relationships between them. The protagonist, Marieke, was at once relatable and infuriating. However, her humour, vulnerability, determination, stoicism, defiance and – yes – her ability to assist the reader to very clearly visualise the physique of each Journey (ahem) ensured that she was endearing to the end.
There were a few occasions on which I thought there was a repetition of thought and expression, however I personally enjoyed the detail, style and pace. The storyline is delightfully complex, without being difficult to follow, and delivers mystery and action in equal measure. I sensed that the author had woven this wonderful, intriguing tale to completion in her mind well before committing it to paper, and that the telling of it was a labour of love. Knowing at the time of reading that there is a Book 2, I was contemplating throughout how Book 1 might conclude. I didn’t guess it, and it is perfect! It left me no option but to read Book 2, and I certainly will!
I extend my congratulations to the author. While I see that she is now a seasoned author of several books, this was her debut novel and it is a laudable debut, indeed.
By way of brief background, the story is set in the 14th century European (fictionalised) principality of Ardennes, in the archers’ Guild of Saint Sebastian. It follows the adventures of a young girl (Marieke) who finds herself, following personal misadventure, impersonating a boy amongst a group of Journeys (young men competing to be chosen for the Guild and the Black Guard) in an institution that strictly prohibits the presence of females.
At the outset, I will note that I am not an authority on medieval Europe and did not read the book expecting absolute historical accuracy. The author notes that “it would be more appropriate to say that the story was inspired by late medieval Belgium than that it actually takes place there”. At any rate, I am a fan of stories that require the suspension of disbelief, and I happily did so throughout my reading of this book.
Journeys is well-written, engaging and unique. Despite there being more key characters than I’m accustomed to, I felt invested in – and immensely fond of – each of them by the end of Book 1. It was quite a feat for the author to give so many characters personality and depth. I found myself enthralled by the lives of the Journeys and their squires and captivated by the beautifully complex relationships between them. The protagonist, Marieke, was at once relatable and infuriating. However, her humour, vulnerability, determination, stoicism, defiance and – yes – her ability to assist the reader to very clearly visualise the physique of each Journey (ahem) ensured that she was endearing to the end.
There were a few occasions on which I thought there was a repetition of thought and expression, however I personally enjoyed the detail, style and pace. The storyline is delightfully complex, without being difficult to follow, and delivers mystery and action in equal measure. I sensed that the author had woven this wonderful, intriguing tale to completion in her mind well before committing it to paper, and that the telling of it was a labour of love. Knowing at the time of reading that there is a Book 2, I was contemplating throughout how Book 1 might conclude. I didn’t guess it, and it is perfect! It left me no option but to read Book 2, and I certainly will!
I extend my congratulations to the author. While I see that she is now a seasoned author of several books, this was her debut novel and it is a laudable debut, indeed.
July 24, 2024
This review was originally posted at https://kittylishareviews.blogspot.com/2024/07/book-review-journeys-by-jeanne-roland.html.
It is the 14th century and the longbow is renowned. The archers of Saint Sebastians are known far and wide, those who make through trials will be narrowed down until one becomes the Prince's new guardsman. One men are allowed to participate in the trials which take place over 2 years, but when Marieke's father is killed she seeks refuge under the guise of a young boy in these sacred halls. While squiring for a Journeyman Marieke discovers more about her father and current threats. If only she isn't caught for being a girl first.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book is very slow to pick up and it took me a long time to actually become invested in the story. I would "reward" myself for completing a chapter by reading something I was enjoying more. Still, I persisted, and I am glad I did. Once you actually get into the story it is very interesting. A bit bogged down in details, but it works in it's own way.
While it took me a while to become interested in the book, once I did I would read only on this instead of deviating to other books, as I am prone to do while reading. This book gives serious Eon vibes, without the disclosure at the end of that book. Still, I loved Eon, and I eventually grew to enjoy this book as well. To the point when it ended I considered immediately grabbing book 2. Afterall, this book ends on a cliff-hanger and I needed to know if they survived. I say they so you don't know who until you read it for yourself!
Even though Marieke is under the guise of a boy, that doesn't mean her feelings and attraction has magically changed. Instead, she gets to ogle these men as they train, even if she rarely gets to enjoy it as she is trying to hide her own identity. The internal conversations where she attempts to battle these feelings is amusing, as well as the dangers faced both within the grounds and outside of them. Marieke does gain one enemy of sorts, but I don't know about him. I don't think he is as bad as he is portrayed and I kind of wants to see her end up with him instead of with anyone else. If this series were to go down the romance aspect it seems like it will lead into.
It is the 14th century and the longbow is renowned. The archers of Saint Sebastians are known far and wide, those who make through trials will be narrowed down until one becomes the Prince's new guardsman. One men are allowed to participate in the trials which take place over 2 years, but when Marieke's father is killed she seeks refuge under the guise of a young boy in these sacred halls. While squiring for a Journeyman Marieke discovers more about her father and current threats. If only she isn't caught for being a girl first.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book is very slow to pick up and it took me a long time to actually become invested in the story. I would "reward" myself for completing a chapter by reading something I was enjoying more. Still, I persisted, and I am glad I did. Once you actually get into the story it is very interesting. A bit bogged down in details, but it works in it's own way.
While it took me a while to become interested in the book, once I did I would read only on this instead of deviating to other books, as I am prone to do while reading. This book gives serious Eon vibes, without the disclosure at the end of that book. Still, I loved Eon, and I eventually grew to enjoy this book as well. To the point when it ended I considered immediately grabbing book 2. Afterall, this book ends on a cliff-hanger and I needed to know if they survived. I say they so you don't know who until you read it for yourself!
Even though Marieke is under the guise of a boy, that doesn't mean her feelings and attraction has magically changed. Instead, she gets to ogle these men as they train, even if she rarely gets to enjoy it as she is trying to hide her own identity. The internal conversations where she attempts to battle these feelings is amusing, as well as the dangers faced both within the grounds and outside of them. Marieke does gain one enemy of sorts, but I don't know about him. I don't think he is as bad as he is portrayed and I kind of wants to see her end up with him instead of with anyone else. If this series were to go down the romance aspect it seems like it will lead into.
June 21, 2022
“Journeys” is a debut novel by author Jeanne Roland and one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The novel is so finely crafted I savored every page. When I came to the end I would have been upset if I didn’t learn a sequel will be released sometime this summer.
The book takes us to 1400s Northern Europe in the Ardennes region. The central story unfolds at Saint Sebastian’s Archery Guild but before we get there we meet Marieke Verbeke, a 15-year-old girl who’s been disfigured by the kick of a mule to her face. Her father was once a great archer and an honored member of the vaunted St. Sebastian’s until he suffered a serious shoulder injury. Now he’s a humbler, if respected, fletcher—a maker of arrows.
As the story opens Marieke and her father make a trip to town so he can visit clients. They go to St. Sebastian’s where she overhears a conversation she doesn’t understand, but later has great significance. After that visit, her father’s demeanor is changed but he refuses to discuss it. It’s not long before Marieke finds herself an orphan and in grave danger. Out of her wits with sorrow and fear, she runs to St. Sebastian’s, though she couldn’t say why.
Her inauspicious entrance and extraordinary time there are the core of this immersive and highly engaging story, beautifully told. Author Jeanne Roland’s research brings to life the medieval period and its world of archery.
“Journeys” has a wide cast of characters, all given unique and compelling personalities. In the main these are young men known as Journeys who compete for places at St. Sebastian’s. Each of them are served by a young squire, most no more than boys. The relationships among and between these groups and the elders who lead the guild are complex and portrayed with equal measures of fierce competitiveness and heartwarming friendship.
To avoid spoilers, I’ll only add the plot holds mystery, intrigue, romance, and plenty of action. I really didn’t know what was coming next most of the time and appreciated that. In addition, the author’s narrative style, while straightforward, is lyrical, full of imagery and beautiful language. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, the medieval period, the sport of archery and to readers who enjoy being transported to another time and place.
May 7, 2025
This was a book I found on Amazon - the comps of 'Twelfth Night' 'Mulan' and 'female archer' / historical had me clicking buy so fast. I chose to read this over vacation and half-way through I quickly grabbed Book 2.
For a young adult book, this is a good debut and I am stunned on how well done it is. You have our female character. She is scarred, strong-minded or willed, and helps her father with his making of bows and arrows. Since girls cannot do what boys do (and her so recently loosing her brother), she takes his place to further her joy and to somewhat ease her father's wounded heart of loosing his son. She is also at the age where her father is setting her up to marry, and while she wouldn't mind being in love, she isn't sure if she wants an arranged marriage without falling in love.
All that is ruined when her father is confronted by someone late at night, and that person slays her father. Knowing only the sound of the man's voice and that he is an archer of some sort, and that their pasts are linked by St. Sebastian, she travels there looking for answers under the guise of a male.
That's when she meets the boys of St. Sebastian, and falls in love with Tristian. Since she cannot reveal her identity, she is taken on as his page and will help him with the trials on becoming (hopefully, eventually) one of the Prince's men. But, another archer competing - Taran - may have her side-tracked and or rethinking her strategies.
I love the boys we're introduced to. I love that there are M/M relationships. I love that the book makes you hate some people by the beginning only to have you going 'oh, maybe I shouldn't'. The ending of this book also ends on a cliffhanger that has me wondering what happened and what she will do now.
All in all, if you're looking for a historical YA, maturely written, this is your book. (I see that the romance gets more pronounced as she grows up, so that's a plus.)
For a young adult book, this is a good debut and I am stunned on how well done it is. You have our female character. She is scarred, strong-minded or willed, and helps her father with his making of bows and arrows. Since girls cannot do what boys do (and her so recently loosing her brother), she takes his place to further her joy and to somewhat ease her father's wounded heart of loosing his son. She is also at the age where her father is setting her up to marry, and while she wouldn't mind being in love, she isn't sure if she wants an arranged marriage without falling in love.
All that is ruined when her father is confronted by someone late at night, and that person slays her father. Knowing only the sound of the man's voice and that he is an archer of some sort, and that their pasts are linked by St. Sebastian, she travels there looking for answers under the guise of a male.
That's when she meets the boys of St. Sebastian, and falls in love with Tristian. Since she cannot reveal her identity, she is taken on as his page and will help him with the trials on becoming (hopefully, eventually) one of the Prince's men. But, another archer competing - Taran - may have her side-tracked and or rethinking her strategies.
I love the boys we're introduced to. I love that there are M/M relationships. I love that the book makes you hate some people by the beginning only to have you going 'oh, maybe I shouldn't'. The ending of this book also ends on a cliffhanger that has me wondering what happened and what she will do now.
All in all, if you're looking for a historical YA, maturely written, this is your book. (I see that the romance gets more pronounced as she grows up, so that's a plus.)
October 1, 2022
Set in 14th century France, Marieke is the 15 year old daughter of an accomplished fletcher with secrets that wedges them apart. He's a former student of St. Sebastian's elite school of archers, but he doesn't talk about it.
We talk about Bruno more than St. Sebastian's.
Marieke lives a simple life, training with her father, delivering arrows, and lamenting her scarred appearance after a donkey kicks her in the face. Her scars give her a distinctive appearance, but that don't crush her spirit. When she witnesses her father's gruesome murder, she flees to the city and ends up on the doorstep of the one place she's sure will provide answers as to why he died.
St. Sebastian's.
Oh, yeah. And she's dressed as a boy to protect herself.
Classic.
She has a rough start. After being beaten and rescued, she ends up a squire to the handsome Tristan. Between pining for him and making sure no one discovers her secret, Marieke, now Marek, seeks answers about her father. Along the way, she forges friendships, makes enemies, and discovers that even if you love someone, sometimes it's best to let them go.
This was a voluminous novel, but I couldn't wait to pick it back up. Told from Marieke's perspective, we are immersed in the world of archery with all the sweat, drama, and theatrics it entails. Each character is delightfully developed with their own voices and I grew attached to all of then, even those we're meant to despise. The tension Marieke feels is palpable, and I felt how difficult it was for her as a blooming young woman surrounded by handsome young men.
Also, I'm a sucker for girls who disguise themselves as boys.
That ending, though? I'm so glad the author just released book 2 because I'm going to buy it now.
We talk about Bruno more than St. Sebastian's.
Marieke lives a simple life, training with her father, delivering arrows, and lamenting her scarred appearance after a donkey kicks her in the face. Her scars give her a distinctive appearance, but that don't crush her spirit. When she witnesses her father's gruesome murder, she flees to the city and ends up on the doorstep of the one place she's sure will provide answers as to why he died.
St. Sebastian's.
Oh, yeah. And she's dressed as a boy to protect herself.
Classic.
She has a rough start. After being beaten and rescued, she ends up a squire to the handsome Tristan. Between pining for him and making sure no one discovers her secret, Marieke, now Marek, seeks answers about her father. Along the way, she forges friendships, makes enemies, and discovers that even if you love someone, sometimes it's best to let them go.
This was a voluminous novel, but I couldn't wait to pick it back up. Told from Marieke's perspective, we are immersed in the world of archery with all the sweat, drama, and theatrics it entails. Each character is delightfully developed with their own voices and I grew attached to all of then, even those we're meant to despise. The tension Marieke feels is palpable, and I felt how difficult it was for her as a blooming young woman surrounded by handsome young men.
Also, I'm a sucker for girls who disguise themselves as boys.
That ending, though? I'm so glad the author just released book 2 because I'm going to buy it now.
December 26, 2021
I'm a slow reader with zero attention span, so when I tell you I devoured this 600 page book in a matter of days, that is a testament to its compelling story telling and utterly lovable characters. If you want some fluff, some angst, some intrigue, some hijinks, and some exquisite archery, this book hits the mark (ha). The plot is always interesting (I’m a sucker for a good competition), but it is the immersive world and rich cast of characters that made prying myself from the story so hard.
Oh, the characters! Our main character Marek/Marieke has her fair share of self-doubt, but she is still so bold and defiant that she doesn’t fall victim to being a blank canvas like so many main characters. And the Journeys—the Journeys! They feel larger than life but still human, and despite the large cast, we come to care about each one. I cannot overstate how much I love these characters: Gilles (my personal favorite) with his outlandish ermine outfit and William Tell shot; Falko, a big, lewd teddy bear; Jerome and his lute; Taran, who I really hope will learn effective communication one of these days. And of course, Tristan, who is charming and over the top, and everything he does he does with style.
I enjoyed so much of this book, more than I can express here. The longbows and crossbows and fletching. The ridiculous ploys to get the attention of Melissande. The fanfare of the tournament. The mystery of her father’s death. And all the little details that make the Journeys, the guild, and all of Louvain come to life. This book might just become my new comfort book, and I know I’ll be rereading all my favorite parts.
Oh, the characters! Our main character Marek/Marieke has her fair share of self-doubt, but she is still so bold and defiant that she doesn’t fall victim to being a blank canvas like so many main characters. And the Journeys—the Journeys! They feel larger than life but still human, and despite the large cast, we come to care about each one. I cannot overstate how much I love these characters: Gilles (my personal favorite) with his outlandish ermine outfit and William Tell shot; Falko, a big, lewd teddy bear; Jerome and his lute; Taran, who I really hope will learn effective communication one of these days. And of course, Tristan, who is charming and over the top, and everything he does he does with style.
I enjoyed so much of this book, more than I can express here. The longbows and crossbows and fletching. The ridiculous ploys to get the attention of Melissande. The fanfare of the tournament. The mystery of her father’s death. And all the little details that make the Journeys, the guild, and all of Louvain come to life. This book might just become my new comfort book, and I know I’ll be rereading all my favorite parts.
May 17, 2022
As I neared the end of this remarkable novel, I found myself slowing down. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Marieke (Marek), the amazing heroine of Journeys. I have no background in medieval European history—certainly none in the archery guilds of the 14th century—and yet I found myself totally absorbed in the world within the archers’ guild of St. Sebastian’s where Marieke, disguised as a boy, becomes the squire of the dashing Journeyman, Tristan.
The tension is breathtaking at every turn. First, the reader is terrified Marieke’s identity will be discovered. Second, the tension is ongoing as Journeymen and their squires must pass through three competitions to see which Journeymen will become a guardsman, one of the elite archers who will be chosen to protect the prince of Ardennes. Meanwhile, Marieke’s devotion to her slain father, who himself had once been a star Journeyman before a freak accident disqualified him, propels Marieke throughout the book as she seeks to find his killer. Her quest drives the momentum of the book as Marieke must negotiate the intrigues and twisting alliances of the Journeymen and their squires within the guild of St. Sebastian’s. Her quest intensifies as she negotiates the intrigues and twisting alliances of the Journeymen.
I was delighted to learn there will be a sequel to Journeys and that I will be able to once again immerse myself in Marieke’s world!
The tension is breathtaking at every turn. First, the reader is terrified Marieke’s identity will be discovered. Second, the tension is ongoing as Journeymen and their squires must pass through three competitions to see which Journeymen will become a guardsman, one of the elite archers who will be chosen to protect the prince of Ardennes. Meanwhile, Marieke’s devotion to her slain father, who himself had once been a star Journeyman before a freak accident disqualified him, propels Marieke throughout the book as she seeks to find his killer. Her quest drives the momentum of the book as Marieke must negotiate the intrigues and twisting alliances of the Journeymen and their squires within the guild of St. Sebastian’s. Her quest intensifies as she negotiates the intrigues and twisting alliances of the Journeymen.
I was delighted to learn there will be a sequel to Journeys and that I will be able to once again immerse myself in Marieke’s world!
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