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War of the Rose #1
The Serpent and the Rose
The beautiful Averil is heir to the Duchy of Quitaine, in the Kingdom of Lys. She is a powerful mage, trained by the Ladies of the Isle, but when her father calls her home to take up her duties, she must leave that life behind. In her city of Fontevrai, she meets Gereint, raised as a common villager but greatly gifted in magic, a novice of the magical order of the Knights of the Rose.
The Knights and their sister order, the Ladies of the Isle, defend a great secret: the means and location of the Serpent's imprisonment a thousand years ago by the Young God in whose name their order was founded.
Quitaine is under subtle attack by the King of Lys, who has secretly become an adept of the hidden order of the Serpent, and he will let nothing and no one stand in the way of his quest to discover how to free his God. But the Knights of the Rose, and the Ladies of the Isle believe that if the Serpent is freed, the world will be enslaved to chaos: humanity will destroy itself, and all that man has made will be corrupted.
The War of the Rose and Serpent has begun again, after a thousand years.
The Knights and their sister order, the Ladies of the Isle, defend a great secret: the means and location of the Serpent's imprisonment a thousand years ago by the Young God in whose name their order was founded.
Quitaine is under subtle attack by the King of Lys, who has secretly become an adept of the hidden order of the Serpent, and he will let nothing and no one stand in the way of his quest to discover how to free his God. But the Knights of the Rose, and the Ladies of the Isle believe that if the Serpent is freed, the world will be enslaved to chaos: humanity will destroy itself, and all that man has made will be corrupted.
The War of the Rose and Serpent has begun again, after a thousand years.
316 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 26, 2016
In the beginning everything was darkness and chaos and wild magic that ran rampant and the Serpent spread its evil and destruction to all corners of the world. Then the Young God came and with him his faithful knights and ladies. He struck down the Serpent though he died in the attempt and his knights and ladies bound the Serpent for all time so its power could never corrupt the world again. They contained the magic and free spirits of the world and bound them under a strict order of closely kept mysteries that only the most highly trained and controlled can know. But the world has not forgotten the Serpent and the time when magic ran free and now one King has made his mission to break the Serpents bonds and let chaos reign again. The Knights of the Rose, descendants of the Paladins who fought for the Young God and the Ladies of the Isle descendents of the Young God's beloved Lady Magdalin and her postulants are all that stand in his way.
This was a pleasant little surprise. A delicately wrought fantastical confection and very finely written high romantic fantasy where the good guys aren't entirely good and the bad guys aren't entirely wrong.
The main players are Gerient a farm boy turned knight who is possessed of a magic power rarely seen and Lady Averil of Lys heir to the most powerful duchy in the land and a wielder of great power herself. Their story may be slightly predictable but their inevitable love actually comes on quite gradually and believably. And yes it might be a bit trope that they're the only ones who can hope to defeat the evil king determined to release hell on earth but they're also going to have to find a way to break through the stifling controls of the Knights and Ladies to arrive at a more perfect union of wild and controlled magic.
I liked this quite a bit and imagine my surprise when the author turned out to be the nom de plume for one of my favorite fantasy and historical fiction writers, Ms. Judith Tarr. This is something of a retreat for Ms. Tarr who tends toward more historical fare for her novels but its a beautiful, if somewhat pedestrian world she's created here. Yeah there's a bit more of a damsel in distress vibe then I like in my fantasy and Ms Tarr is perhaps overly fond of the whole "women pretending to be helpless to control men" thing but taken as a whole this is a solidly written, well plotted beginning to a trilogy that I might not finish tomorrow but will surely come back to.
This was a pleasant little surprise. A delicately wrought fantastical confection and very finely written high romantic fantasy where the good guys aren't entirely good and the bad guys aren't entirely wrong.
The main players are Gerient a farm boy turned knight who is possessed of a magic power rarely seen and Lady Averil of Lys heir to the most powerful duchy in the land and a wielder of great power herself. Their story may be slightly predictable but their inevitable love actually comes on quite gradually and believably. And yes it might be a bit trope that they're the only ones who can hope to defeat the evil king determined to release hell on earth but they're also going to have to find a way to break through the stifling controls of the Knights and Ladies to arrive at a more perfect union of wild and controlled magic.
I liked this quite a bit and imagine my surprise when the author turned out to be the nom de plume for one of my favorite fantasy and historical fiction writers, Ms. Judith Tarr. This is something of a retreat for Ms. Tarr who tends toward more historical fare for her novels but its a beautiful, if somewhat pedestrian world she's created here. Yeah there's a bit more of a damsel in distress vibe then I like in my fantasy and Ms Tarr is perhaps overly fond of the whole "women pretending to be helpless to control men" thing but taken as a whole this is a solidly written, well plotted beginning to a trilogy that I might not finish tomorrow but will surely come back to.
December 15, 2009
Gereient is the humble but magically gifted farmboy. Averil is the astoundingly beautiful but kind and humble lady, raised by nuns because her father couldn't bear to look at the reminder of his late wife. They each belong to allied noble orders (the Knights of the Rose and the Ladies of the Isle), and eventually they will meet and fall in love. Their love will undoubtedly be tested by the difference in their social stations and the Darkness Sweeping the Land. I don't know, however, because I gave up on this book about halfway through.
This book is what you get when the Belgariad and Arthurian myth are thrown into a blender, and then only the murkiest dregs are printed. It's a terribly boring mishmash of Christianity-as-last-hope-against-the-Serpent and farmboy-loves-princess. People are perpetually telling the farmboy how humble and gifted he is. Averil is continually far too mature and skilled to be 15. And the villain gets a chapter or two to explain his Evil Plans and how Evil is all he desires and so on and so forth every time the reader is getting truly bored with the farmboy and the lady's meet-cute. There is absolutely no narrative tension, the characters are cardboard cliches, and the entire thing is one huge Fantasy Trope enacted in McEurope. It is not, however, actively horrifying or insulting, so I suppose that's something.
Kathleen Bryan is actually the pseudonym of Judith Tarr, which explains a great deal.
This book is what you get when the Belgariad and Arthurian myth are thrown into a blender, and then only the murkiest dregs are printed. It's a terribly boring mishmash of Christianity-as-last-hope-against-the-Serpent and farmboy-loves-princess. People are perpetually telling the farmboy how humble and gifted he is. Averil is continually far too mature and skilled to be 15. And the villain gets a chapter or two to explain his Evil Plans and how Evil is all he desires and so on and so forth every time the reader is getting truly bored with the farmboy and the lady's meet-cute. There is absolutely no narrative tension, the characters are cardboard cliches, and the entire thing is one huge Fantasy Trope enacted in McEurope. It is not, however, actively horrifying or insulting, so I suppose that's something.
Kathleen Bryan is actually the pseudonym of Judith Tarr, which explains a great deal.
November 30, 2012
A fatherless farmboy with a dangerous talent for magic meets a down-to-earth noble girl while their dutchy, deep in the heart of Fantasy Europe, is threatened by an evil king.
A story built so heavily on generic fantasy conventions isn't necessarily the worst thing, but if a book piles on the tropes then its characters have to be compelling enough to distinguish them from every other "commoner knight" and "hidden heiress" around. Since this set of protagonists is every bit as well-worn as their plot, I gave up on them at the halfway point.
A story built so heavily on generic fantasy conventions isn't necessarily the worst thing, but if a book piles on the tropes then its characters have to be compelling enough to distinguish them from every other "commoner knight" and "hidden heiress" around. Since this set of protagonists is every bit as well-worn as their plot, I gave up on them at the halfway point.
December 28, 2007
I picked up The Serpent and the Rose on a whim at the library and read it in an evening; it's a short 300 pages in its trade paperback format. The book is copyrighted to Judith Tarr, so I imagine Kathleen Bryan is a pseudonym... which makes all the editorial reviews about Bryan's debut novel a bit ironic.
I enjoyed the book enough to finish it, though it took some effort at the end. It felt like another plot-driven rather than character-driven story. Terrible things happen, but the characters soldier on -- there's not a moment of angst, no suffering that precedes character growth, no scenes that make your heart jump with dread or expectation. (The romance touted on the cover, by the way, is rated thoroughly G.)
Most of the story is well-worn fantasy fare (farm boy dreams of being a knight/mage, meets imperiled princess, discovers rare magical abilities, etc.), but with a weird, unexpected detour through Spirited Away territory inserted halfway through. (Anyone who threw a fit at Pullman's His Dark Materials for religious reasons would probably dislike this book too.) The book does establish some interesting political and religious institutions. I wish Bryan had fleshed these out before tearing everything apart. I also wish she'd defined for us what magic can and can't do -- at least in general terms. As it is, I worry there's a deus ex machina waiting in the wings in the sequels.
I enjoyed the book enough to finish it, though it took some effort at the end. It felt like another plot-driven rather than character-driven story. Terrible things happen, but the characters soldier on -- there's not a moment of angst, no suffering that precedes character growth, no scenes that make your heart jump with dread or expectation. (The romance touted on the cover, by the way, is rated thoroughly G.)
Most of the story is well-worn fantasy fare (farm boy dreams of being a knight/mage, meets imperiled princess, discovers rare magical abilities, etc.), but with a weird, unexpected detour through Spirited Away territory inserted halfway through. (Anyone who threw a fit at Pullman's His Dark Materials for religious reasons would probably dislike this book too.) The book does establish some interesting political and religious institutions. I wish Bryan had fleshed these out before tearing everything apart. I also wish she'd defined for us what magic can and can't do -- at least in general terms. As it is, I worry there's a deus ex machina waiting in the wings in the sequels.
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March 25, 2019Da ich nun endlich einmal wieder ein Buch aus dem Genre Fantasy lesen wollte, durchstöberte ich meine Regale nach einer solchen Lektüre.
Schließlich entschied ich mich für "Der Orden der Rose" von Kathleen Bryan, da ich noch kein Buch der Autorin gelesen hatte. Zudem hatte ich Lust mal wieder etwas zu lesen, das schon ein paar Jährchen auf den Buckel hatte.
Wie ich zu der Reihe kam? Ich hatte vor Weilen das Glück das mir sehr viele Bücher von Privatpersonen geschenkt wurden und dabei waren auch 2 Bände der Reihe. Den letzten Band ergatterte ich dann günstig bei ReBuy.
Wie in so vielen Büchern des Fantasy-Genres gab es auch in diesem sehr viele Charaktere. Die Hauptcharaktere ließen sich noch gut merken, wenn man dann aber den Namen eines Ritters las, überlegte man schon sehr stark wo man ihn einordnen könnte.
Das Hauptaugenmerk lag auf Averil und Gereint, welche zwar aus verschieden Gesellschaftsschichten stammten, aber mit jeder gelesenen Seite mehr zu einander fanden.
Averil war die Tochter eines mächtigen Herzogs und erlernte auf einer Insel ihre Magie zu benutzen um später einmal ein Reich zu leiten. Ab der ersten Seite war sie mir eine angenehme Person, die ich gerne auf ihren Weg verfolgte. Ihre Beschreibungen ließen ein klares Bild erscheinen, das eine hübsche Frau zeigte. Ich hatte stellenweise das Gefühl, das ihr Alter und ihre Denkweise nicht zueinander passten, da sie meist sehr erfahren handelte.
Gereint wäre das beste Beispiel für klischeehafte Beschreibungen. Er war einfacher Bauer, dem es nicht erlaubt war, seine wilde Magie zähmen zu dürfen, die immer mächtiger wurde. Gerade weil wir erlesen durften, wie er das Unbekannte in sich selbst entdeckte und wie "Der Orden der Rose" ihn ausbildete, konnte man sich sehr schnell in seine Lage bringen. Mich imponierte besonders sein Fleiß und seine Liebe zu Tieren. Stets zu lesen wie gewissenhaft er die Pferde hegte ohne zu murren oder sich zu beschweren, hinterließ einen bleibenden Eindruck.
Je weiter man im Buch vorrückte, desto mehr Ritter, Priester usw. wurden einen vorgestellt. Hier den Überblick nicht zu verlieren war schwer und gelang mir leider nicht.
Im Gesamten waren alle Charaktere, egal wie klein oder groß, stets hervorragend umschrieben. Ich hatte sie beim Lesen stets vor meinem Auge. Auch ihre Handlungen reichten von jenen die man erahnen konnten bis hin zu jenen, die einen überraschten. Natürlich gab es den Feind, aber dieser wurde mir im Buch zu wenig behandelt. Ich weiß wer es ist und weshalb er handelt, aber dies reichte bei weiten nicht. Hier werden die Nachfolger hoffentlich noch mehr Licht ins Dunkel bringen.
Kaum waren ein paar Seiten gelesen schon befand ich mich mitten in der Geschichte und wollte aus jener auch so schnell nicht wieder heraus. Tatsächlich fiel mir das aus der Hand legen des Buches sichtlich schwer.
Auf den 350 Seiten wurde alles liebevoll umschrieben. Sei es die Welt selbst mit ihren Gebirgen, Wäldern oder Sümpfen oder die Menschen die in ihr lebten. Besonders faszinierend war die Darstellung der Magie, welche ich so in noch keinem Buch fand.
Dieses Buch würde ich Personen empfehlen die noch sehr wenig aus dem Genre Fantasy gelesen haben und einen zarten Einstieg in dieses Segment möchten. Die Geschichte ist einfach, aber fesselnd und beherbergt ausschließlich Menschen und Magier. Natürlich kommen in späteren Bereichen auch noch andere Wesen vor, aber die möchte ich lieber nicht verraten. Ich kann jedoch verraten das es keine Drachen oder ähnliches gibt.
Was mir besonders positiv auffiel war, wie man Verletzungen und Wunden beschrieb. Trotz einiger Kämpfe wurde jene nur sehr harmlos angedeutet und nicht bis in das kleinste Detail ausgeschildert.
Tatsächlich hätte ich mir stellenweise doch etwas mehr Spannung gewünscht, da im Buch nur sehr wenig passierte. Natürlich gab es hin und wieder einen spektakulären Moment aber größtenteils reisen wir durch die Lande um der königlichen Armee zu entkommen. Ich hoffe die Nachfolger können, da ein wenig mehr bieten.
Man merkt allgemein sehr, dass das Buch darauf zählt das man die Nachfolger liest, da viele Fragen offen blieben. Gerade die Vergangenheit der Magie mit ihren Schöpfern, wurde nur sehr spärlich erzählt, machte dafür aber ungemein neugierig.
Die Gestaltung des Covers empfinde ich mehr als gelungen. Es macht Spaß das Buch von allen Seiten einmal anzusehen, da es rundum, wunderschön gestaltet wurde. Seien es die Ecken, welche Beschläge zieren oder die Farben des Himmels, ich konnte mich an alldem nicht satt sehen. Gerade das Amulett auf der Vorderseite zog alle Blicke auf sich.
Wo der Autorenname und der Haupttitel des Buches noch sehr kantig gestaltet wurden, hat man sich beim eigentlichen Titel für eine geschwungene Schrift entschieden. Ich finde dies sehr gewagt, aber geglückt, da beide Schriftbilder sehr gut zueinander passen.
Für mich ist dies ein gelungenes Cover, da es farblich sehr harmoniert, aber sich nix wirklich im Wege steht. Man könnte fast meinen das Bild wirke überladen, aber für mich ist es sehr gut durchdacht.
Eine einfache Geschichte, mit sympathischen Charakteren und viel Magie aber etwas zu wenig Spannung. Für Neueinsteiger in dieses Genre bestens geeignet.
Schließlich entschied ich mich für "Der Orden der Rose" von Kathleen Bryan, da ich noch kein Buch der Autorin gelesen hatte. Zudem hatte ich Lust mal wieder etwas zu lesen, das schon ein paar Jährchen auf den Buckel hatte.
Wie ich zu der Reihe kam? Ich hatte vor Weilen das Glück das mir sehr viele Bücher von Privatpersonen geschenkt wurden und dabei waren auch 2 Bände der Reihe. Den letzten Band ergatterte ich dann günstig bei ReBuy.
Wie in so vielen Büchern des Fantasy-Genres gab es auch in diesem sehr viele Charaktere. Die Hauptcharaktere ließen sich noch gut merken, wenn man dann aber den Namen eines Ritters las, überlegte man schon sehr stark wo man ihn einordnen könnte.
Das Hauptaugenmerk lag auf Averil und Gereint, welche zwar aus verschieden Gesellschaftsschichten stammten, aber mit jeder gelesenen Seite mehr zu einander fanden.
Averil war die Tochter eines mächtigen Herzogs und erlernte auf einer Insel ihre Magie zu benutzen um später einmal ein Reich zu leiten. Ab der ersten Seite war sie mir eine angenehme Person, die ich gerne auf ihren Weg verfolgte. Ihre Beschreibungen ließen ein klares Bild erscheinen, das eine hübsche Frau zeigte. Ich hatte stellenweise das Gefühl, das ihr Alter und ihre Denkweise nicht zueinander passten, da sie meist sehr erfahren handelte.
Gereint wäre das beste Beispiel für klischeehafte Beschreibungen. Er war einfacher Bauer, dem es nicht erlaubt war, seine wilde Magie zähmen zu dürfen, die immer mächtiger wurde. Gerade weil wir erlesen durften, wie er das Unbekannte in sich selbst entdeckte und wie "Der Orden der Rose" ihn ausbildete, konnte man sich sehr schnell in seine Lage bringen. Mich imponierte besonders sein Fleiß und seine Liebe zu Tieren. Stets zu lesen wie gewissenhaft er die Pferde hegte ohne zu murren oder sich zu beschweren, hinterließ einen bleibenden Eindruck.
Je weiter man im Buch vorrückte, desto mehr Ritter, Priester usw. wurden einen vorgestellt. Hier den Überblick nicht zu verlieren war schwer und gelang mir leider nicht.
Im Gesamten waren alle Charaktere, egal wie klein oder groß, stets hervorragend umschrieben. Ich hatte sie beim Lesen stets vor meinem Auge. Auch ihre Handlungen reichten von jenen die man erahnen konnten bis hin zu jenen, die einen überraschten. Natürlich gab es den Feind, aber dieser wurde mir im Buch zu wenig behandelt. Ich weiß wer es ist und weshalb er handelt, aber dies reichte bei weiten nicht. Hier werden die Nachfolger hoffentlich noch mehr Licht ins Dunkel bringen.
Kaum waren ein paar Seiten gelesen schon befand ich mich mitten in der Geschichte und wollte aus jener auch so schnell nicht wieder heraus. Tatsächlich fiel mir das aus der Hand legen des Buches sichtlich schwer.
Auf den 350 Seiten wurde alles liebevoll umschrieben. Sei es die Welt selbst mit ihren Gebirgen, Wäldern oder Sümpfen oder die Menschen die in ihr lebten. Besonders faszinierend war die Darstellung der Magie, welche ich so in noch keinem Buch fand.
Dieses Buch würde ich Personen empfehlen die noch sehr wenig aus dem Genre Fantasy gelesen haben und einen zarten Einstieg in dieses Segment möchten. Die Geschichte ist einfach, aber fesselnd und beherbergt ausschließlich Menschen und Magier. Natürlich kommen in späteren Bereichen auch noch andere Wesen vor, aber die möchte ich lieber nicht verraten. Ich kann jedoch verraten das es keine Drachen oder ähnliches gibt.
Was mir besonders positiv auffiel war, wie man Verletzungen und Wunden beschrieb. Trotz einiger Kämpfe wurde jene nur sehr harmlos angedeutet und nicht bis in das kleinste Detail ausgeschildert.
Tatsächlich hätte ich mir stellenweise doch etwas mehr Spannung gewünscht, da im Buch nur sehr wenig passierte. Natürlich gab es hin und wieder einen spektakulären Moment aber größtenteils reisen wir durch die Lande um der königlichen Armee zu entkommen. Ich hoffe die Nachfolger können, da ein wenig mehr bieten.
Man merkt allgemein sehr, dass das Buch darauf zählt das man die Nachfolger liest, da viele Fragen offen blieben. Gerade die Vergangenheit der Magie mit ihren Schöpfern, wurde nur sehr spärlich erzählt, machte dafür aber ungemein neugierig.
Die Gestaltung des Covers empfinde ich mehr als gelungen. Es macht Spaß das Buch von allen Seiten einmal anzusehen, da es rundum, wunderschön gestaltet wurde. Seien es die Ecken, welche Beschläge zieren oder die Farben des Himmels, ich konnte mich an alldem nicht satt sehen. Gerade das Amulett auf der Vorderseite zog alle Blicke auf sich.
Wo der Autorenname und der Haupttitel des Buches noch sehr kantig gestaltet wurden, hat man sich beim eigentlichen Titel für eine geschwungene Schrift entschieden. Ich finde dies sehr gewagt, aber geglückt, da beide Schriftbilder sehr gut zueinander passen.
Für mich ist dies ein gelungenes Cover, da es farblich sehr harmoniert, aber sich nix wirklich im Wege steht. Man könnte fast meinen das Bild wirke überladen, aber für mich ist es sehr gut durchdacht.
Eine einfache Geschichte, mit sympathischen Charakteren und viel Magie aber etwas zu wenig Spannung. Für Neueinsteiger in dieses Genre bestens geeignet.
April 25, 2019
"All she had to fight this was a pretty pendant on a silver chain, a godborn boy who had been raised a farmer and such magic as she could muster.
'You have more than that,' Gaereint said, riding in her thoughts as he had ridden in her dreams. 'You have yourself.'"
'The Serpent and the Rose' is the first of a trilogy authored by Kathleen Bryan (although I think that is a pseudonym). It centers around a boy named Gereint and an heir to a duchy named Averil. It very much has a classic fantasy feel and even the cover harks me back to old school fantasy novels. The story centers around Gereint running away from home because of his untrained magic and his life getting settled in the capital city where he learns to be a knight. Averil who had grown up on an isle dedicated to studying magic, is called back from the isle to join her aging father who is close to death. She meets Gereint and together they find out about the treachery of the King that reigns over the kingdom and his lust to kill the dukes to reestablish control and reawaken an evil power. While I enjoyed the read there were a couple flaws I encountered throughout.
First off I enjoyed the story. I thought it was interesting and unique despite taking from obvious troupes that have been laid out before it. Nothing was really too surprising and nothing really blew my socks off, but it was still enjoyable, if that make sense. I feel the big jump for me to give a 5 star rating is to blow me off my feet with something new or innovative that keeps me enthralled, this book didn't have it. But that said (and as stated above) I did still enjoy it. If you are looking for more of a classic fantasy vibe and not too concerned about getting a innovative experience you cant go wrong here.
"'But what am I?' She asked. 'I'm no prince of the church."
'You're the descendant of Paladins, a child of kings. All your foremothers have been enchantresses of the Isle.'
'Then maybe I'm more vulnerable than anyone,' she said"
The characters I thought were solid. I enjoyed the leads' perspective and liked their motives that shined throughout the book. I thought some side characters were also written well and the dialogue seemed natural enough for me. I enjoyed how the author approached the romance here, in so the fact it was not love at first sight or awkward teenage pawing. At the end of the book the audience knew how the characters felt about one another but still understood their reluctance (no matter how asinine society/culture within fantasies can be about such subjects). Their drive to do what is right and keeping to proper societal norms kept their emotions in check for the majority of the book, which to be honest I liked because it made it feel real. We all know how the relationship is going to end. There is no hiding it, and while I admit I will be rooting for it, it's nice to see it grow with time.
There was some frustrating scenes throughout that I felt could have been written a little better. Several times throughout the book I had to re-read sections because I felt I missed something but sure enough I didn't. I'm sure it was just the writing style of the book, but I felt these sections (some of them very important) could have been more detailed and painted a better picture for the reader. It is sometimes hard to immerse myself when I have a trouble understanding what just happened, and I feel the author wouldn't want that for the book.
Overall I am pleased with my decision to pick up this book and give it a go. I have a good feeling about the trilogy but only time will tell. I think the second book could be the turning point, and I have a feeling it could either be a fantastic series or one that will greatly disappoint me. Fingers crossed it is the former.
"'You're Forewarned," he said. "You're guarded. You can see past the order of the world."
'But is that enough?'
'It will be,' he said."
'You have more than that,' Gaereint said, riding in her thoughts as he had ridden in her dreams. 'You have yourself.'"
'The Serpent and the Rose' is the first of a trilogy authored by Kathleen Bryan (although I think that is a pseudonym). It centers around a boy named Gereint and an heir to a duchy named Averil. It very much has a classic fantasy feel and even the cover harks me back to old school fantasy novels. The story centers around Gereint running away from home because of his untrained magic and his life getting settled in the capital city where he learns to be a knight. Averil who had grown up on an isle dedicated to studying magic, is called back from the isle to join her aging father who is close to death. She meets Gereint and together they find out about the treachery of the King that reigns over the kingdom and his lust to kill the dukes to reestablish control and reawaken an evil power. While I enjoyed the read there were a couple flaws I encountered throughout.
First off I enjoyed the story. I thought it was interesting and unique despite taking from obvious troupes that have been laid out before it. Nothing was really too surprising and nothing really blew my socks off, but it was still enjoyable, if that make sense. I feel the big jump for me to give a 5 star rating is to blow me off my feet with something new or innovative that keeps me enthralled, this book didn't have it. But that said (and as stated above) I did still enjoy it. If you are looking for more of a classic fantasy vibe and not too concerned about getting a innovative experience you cant go wrong here.
"'But what am I?' She asked. 'I'm no prince of the church."
'You're the descendant of Paladins, a child of kings. All your foremothers have been enchantresses of the Isle.'
'Then maybe I'm more vulnerable than anyone,' she said"
The characters I thought were solid. I enjoyed the leads' perspective and liked their motives that shined throughout the book. I thought some side characters were also written well and the dialogue seemed natural enough for me. I enjoyed how the author approached the romance here, in so the fact it was not love at first sight or awkward teenage pawing. At the end of the book the audience knew how the characters felt about one another but still understood their reluctance (no matter how asinine society/culture within fantasies can be about such subjects). Their drive to do what is right and keeping to proper societal norms kept their emotions in check for the majority of the book, which to be honest I liked because it made it feel real. We all know how the relationship is going to end. There is no hiding it, and while I admit I will be rooting for it, it's nice to see it grow with time.
There was some frustrating scenes throughout that I felt could have been written a little better. Several times throughout the book I had to re-read sections because I felt I missed something but sure enough I didn't. I'm sure it was just the writing style of the book, but I felt these sections (some of them very important) could have been more detailed and painted a better picture for the reader. It is sometimes hard to immerse myself when I have a trouble understanding what just happened, and I feel the author wouldn't want that for the book.
Overall I am pleased with my decision to pick up this book and give it a go. I have a good feeling about the trilogy but only time will tell. I think the second book could be the turning point, and I have a feeling it could either be a fantastic series or one that will greatly disappoint me. Fingers crossed it is the former.
"'You're Forewarned," he said. "You're guarded. You can see past the order of the world."
'But is that enough?'
'It will be,' he said."
March 21, 2018
No fluffery in this book. It is concise and contained, but allows the imagination to wander into the beautiful world. Can't wait to read the next book.
December 13, 2022
The only one of Judith Tarr’s books… er, Kathleen Bryant… I have read and didn’t care for was The Kingdom of the Grail. The Serpent and the Rose, fortunately, is on the list of her medieval books that I love, whether it be The Hound and the Falcon trilogy, along with its related Alamut and The Dagger and the Cross, or A Wind in Cairo, Ars Magica, The Devil’s Bargain series, William the Conqueror series, or my guilty pleasure, His Majesty’s Elephant. The words of her books always sound like a song with its magical themes, beautiful descriptions, and elegant prose, and this was no different. Not sure why Tarr wrote this series under a pen name as I would have known at once it was her work. And what a story it is. And typically Judith Tarr!
When Lady Averil, heir to the Duchy of Quitaine in the kingdom of Lys (Aquitaine and Francia), is summoned home by her father the king from her sheltered home as an acolyte on the magical Island of Glass, she never suspects it will change her life, and the fate of the kingdom, her home, or the realms of magic to which she is also an heir. Along the way, she comes across young Gereint, a poor farmer boy who is just beginning to understand the depth of the magic he possesses. Together, as the War of the Rose unfolds, they must battle an unseen enemy who desires to release the Serpent, the ancient god of chaos and darkness who has been bound by the Young God for a thousand years. And they unsure if they are up to the task.
As with so much of Tarr’s (Bryant) work, her alterations to history is clearly seen in her fantasy realms, and in this we see distortions of medieval France with elements of Christianity (the Young God) and its antithetical realm of evil (the Serpent). Added to this is a type of elemental magic through glass and light as the Ladies of the Glass Isle (nuns) seek to protect the world from the Serpent’s release with the aid of the Knights of the Rose (warrior knights/Templars) descended from the original twelve Paladins (disciples). But, as will no doubt happen (it is a Judith Tarr novel after all), the end of this series will bend those similarities into a true fantasy novel, one in which not all is at might seem, and all too often, white and black will blend into gray. But we shall see…
In the mean time—sheer magic and poetry! Five wonderful stars!
October 11, 2012
Gereint is a young man who has been hidden from the mage finders by his mother, for his whole life. Averil is the duchess of Quitaine, and was raised on the Isle, a priory where she is taught magic, and how to control it and herself. When Averil's father calls her back from the Isle, and Gereint meets a group of Knights of the Order of the Rose, both of them realize that their lives are going to change.
It isn't only their lives that are about to be changed - an evil in the land is trying to raise the Serpent from its cage - where it was placed untold years before, by the Young God and his Knights. The King of Lys is slowly tightening a noose around Quitaine, and all the other lands of his rule, and intends on destroying the Isle and the Knights of the Rose in his desire to raise the Serpent again.
Averil and Gereint have one strength against his rule - their wild magic, something neither of them were trained to use, something beyond the magics of both the Isle and the Knights of the Rose. They might be the best chance for Quitaine, and possibly, the kingdom, despite everything against them.
Why this book works - Averil and Gereint are very sympathetic characters, both of them thrust into lives that only one of them has trained for. Gereint has had no magical training, and is a wild card that the Order of the Rose is wary of, and, even more, believes that he could be a great help to their Order. Averil's own powers are augmented by Gereint's, and their abilities to use their magics as one are currently untried, however, it is assumed in the next two novels of the series, that they will have opportunities to use said magic.
What I didn't like about the novel were the short chapters. I would've preferred some longer chapters interspersed with the shorter ones. I also would've liked to have had something more from the villain's POV - I'm not quite sure what's driving the king to do this, and I hope that would be rectified in the additional novels.
It isn't only their lives that are about to be changed - an evil in the land is trying to raise the Serpent from its cage - where it was placed untold years before, by the Young God and his Knights. The King of Lys is slowly tightening a noose around Quitaine, and all the other lands of his rule, and intends on destroying the Isle and the Knights of the Rose in his desire to raise the Serpent again.
Averil and Gereint have one strength against his rule - their wild magic, something neither of them were trained to use, something beyond the magics of both the Isle and the Knights of the Rose. They might be the best chance for Quitaine, and possibly, the kingdom, despite everything against them.
Why this book works - Averil and Gereint are very sympathetic characters, both of them thrust into lives that only one of them has trained for. Gereint has had no magical training, and is a wild card that the Order of the Rose is wary of, and, even more, believes that he could be a great help to their Order. Averil's own powers are augmented by Gereint's, and their abilities to use their magics as one are currently untried, however, it is assumed in the next two novels of the series, that they will have opportunities to use said magic.
What I didn't like about the novel were the short chapters. I would've preferred some longer chapters interspersed with the shorter ones. I also would've liked to have had something more from the villain's POV - I'm not quite sure what's driving the king to do this, and I hope that would be rectified in the additional novels.
February 21, 2008
I realize that I love fantasy. This book has some very interesting parallels to Christianity and LDS doctrines, however I haven't decided whether it's intentional or a mockery of Christian traditions. Anyway, I generally like the storyline but it's almost too drawn out. I think the book would be much better if there was less telling and more description through subtle imagery. I don't like being TOLD that there's magic--describe it another way that makes me feel the magic and invites me to call it that yet at the same time wonder if my assumption is correct.
Nonetheless, I have the sequel on hold at the local library. :-) I think that's because I'm part feline--curiosity usually gets the best of me.
Nonetheless, I have the sequel on hold at the local library. :-) I think that's because I'm part feline--curiosity usually gets the best of me.
February 27, 2008
Hey, I just finished "The Serpent and the Rose." It was really good, but it took me awhile to get into the high fantasy. I loved all the "wild" magic Ms. Bryan talked about. I think having the outlawed magic really made the story.
And Gereint, the male main character, was excellent. Very protective and very sweet...what's not to like?
I will definitely be reading the sequels.
And Gereint, the male main character, was excellent. Very protective and very sweet...what's not to like?
I will definitely be reading the sequels.
March 25, 2008
It's been a while since I read a new fantasy series that I so thoroughly enjoyed. This book is what I think of as true fantasy: magic,foreign lands, evil magicians, power-hungry kings. However, it is labled as the first in the new epic trilogy, and it does not end in a mice wrapped-up place. I am now anxiously awaiting the next installment.
September 28, 2009
This book was good. However, I read it on the heels of the "Magic Study" trilogy and there were several similarities and so I couldn't truly credit Ms. Bryan with a truly original story. The characters did come to life and the pacing was good enough to keep me turning the pages as quickly as possible.
February 25, 2008
I will admit, I didn't actually finish this book. And to be honest, I didn't even give it a fair shot. I think I read 5 or 6 pages, but it was all I could stomach. I just couldn't force myself to read anymore. Sorry, I know that doesn't count as having "read" it.
May 24, 2012
A secret society of knights and magical deviants in a battle over the human soul! Staring a strong willed heroin out to save the land she loves while being faithfully pursued by her forbidden lover. A suspenseful adventure and a good read!
February 22, 2021
Very middle of the road for me! I enjoyed reading it, but I probably won't go back to it.
I vibed hard with this writing style. It's unhurried, a little old fashioned, poetic but not overwhelmingly so. The descriptions are solid. The words are just nice to read, you know?
The worldbuilding is good sometimes. A lot of it is simple, transparent Western European fantasy with a lot of religion stuff in. The magic system is super interesting; so much of it is done through glass and visions, which I haven't seen before. And about two thirds of the way through, it gets delightfully weird.
The characters aren't terrible, but they aren't very deep, either. They talk about character development, but it's hard to actually see. Either I don't know our protags very well, or there's not much to know. There are some moving moments here and there between them, so you catch glimpses.
There's not much plot to speak of for the first half. And once the second half stops being fae-weird (which, again, I love), the ending becomes terribly mundane and anticlimactic. Did we really come through all that just to
All in all, it's an okay little book. I liked reading the pretty words and descriptions of magic. But here this series and I part ways.
I vibed hard with this writing style. It's unhurried, a little old fashioned, poetic but not overwhelmingly so. The descriptions are solid. The words are just nice to read, you know?
The worldbuilding is good sometimes. A lot of it is simple, transparent Western European fantasy with a lot of religion stuff in. The magic system is super interesting; so much of it is done through glass and visions, which I haven't seen before. And about two thirds of the way through, it gets delightfully weird.
The characters aren't terrible, but they aren't very deep, either. They talk about character development, but it's hard to actually see. Either I don't know our protags very well, or there's not much to know. There are some moving moments here and there between them, so you catch glimpses.
There's not much plot to speak of for the first half. And once the second half stops being fae-weird (which, again, I love), the ending becomes terribly mundane and anticlimactic. Did we really come through all that just to
All in all, it's an okay little book. I liked reading the pretty words and descriptions of magic. But here this series and I part ways.
May 6, 2018
I didn't dislike this book but I honestly do hate how little happen in it. I don't want to be completely rude but for an honest review, this book could be trimmed down to 50 pages or less. Much of the book is spent on "what if" from the heroine. What she should be doing. What she wants to do. What she hesistates to do. What she promises to do. What she doesn't want to do. What she thinks she will do. What she bla bla bla and fucking more bla.
I stuck with this book and hoped the ending will give some pay off but the last 25% of the book was just more of the heroine's what ifs about what's going to happen or what she thinks will happen (in the sense of what's going to happen next book because the current book is going to end soon). God almighty. This is was a waste of time because she just reversed the little that did happened in the first 75% of the book back to step one and promises to do better (in the next book).
February 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this book...and that was before I realized that it is Judith Tarr, one of my favorite authors, writing under another name. The story takes place in a fantasy kingdom called Quitaine (think Aquitaine) and the heroine is Averil. Averil is heir to Quitaine and her father the duke is dying, having been mysteriously possessed by a strange illness. It turns out that there are ancient gods and evil royalty who would like to release them, and destroy the balance and order that has existed since the ancient god went away. It falls to Averil and her sidekick Gerient to save the world.
Ok, that all sounds simplistic, but Bryan does a wonderful job of creating a believable world with magic and mages and interesting communities of people. I found myself totally absorbed in the story and will be getting book two as soon as I finish with this review!
Ok, that all sounds simplistic, but Bryan does a wonderful job of creating a believable world with magic and mages and interesting communities of people. I found myself totally absorbed in the story and will be getting book two as soon as I finish with this review!
May 23, 2025
Averil is heiress to Quitaine ( glass magic). Gereint uses wild magic. They are two halves. The king is trying to awaken the serpent his who will enslave the earth. Very slow to start, then very fast pace, the slows again.
September 3, 2021
Magic is fine, but please let it make sense.
August 25, 2023
Meh. Really wondrous elements. Lackluster third of a book with the most cliche villain.
May 19, 2010
Unfortunately, Kathleen Bryan writes like an amateur. She uses the word "said" constantly with out any other form of the word. For instance, Averil, the main female character, will say something and the sentence will end with "...Averil said." Instead of Averil rebuked, confirmed, ranted, etc. Sure once or twice Bryan will write asked or replied, but more often than not a character only said something. The emotion is within the words and situation, but still a word other than "said" would be nice. Furthermore, her descriptions are not very poetic or beautiful. They are simple and plain. For example,Bryan may write 'autumn leaves flew by in flashes of red, yellow, and brown' instead of 'autumnal leaves fluttered in the wind like banner flags of crimson, gold, and jasper.' I prefer the more poetic form of writing, especially in fantasy writing, but that's just me. Additionally, Bryan lapses time and scenery quickly with few words to indicate a transition. And when the climax is encountered, I felt very little suspense up to that point and a smidgen of resolution. However, despite her faults Bryan carries two virtues in her writing. Firstly, the morality incorporated inside the main stem of the plot is her greatest strength. Bryan question's restrictions, and political restraints of society. In book two, "The Golden Rose" Bryan will become the devils advocate of religion. Secondly, her writing improves as the series continues, but she persists in writing "...said." In conclusion, I would recommend this book to only readers who can skip the word said constantly, and those who can be forgiving enough to accept Bryan's faults and continue on with a wonderful story.
February 22, 2015
2.5 stars. I found this book to be incredibly frustrating. The premise is fascinating, featuring a world in which the Christian narrative is mixed with magic. The Serpent is the force of chaos in the world, and the "Young God," very much a Jesus figure, has locked him away. Now, many years later, a cult attempts to wake the Serpent, and it is up to two young people, one a devotee of the church and one as wild as can be, to stop them.
The problem is that the characters fall incredibly flat, and the writing is so-so. The personalities of the characters are essentially cardboard cut-outs of the noble duchess and rags-to-riches peasant bastard. Although the story is told from both their perspectives at times, I still never felt the two protagonists were anything more than bland. The writing itself is also bland. "Bryan" (actually a pen name for Judith Tarr) speaks about magic at length, but cannot convey either through description or the intuitive feeling of her words what magic is like. So, the reader is simply told that magic does this or that, without any sense of what that might mean or look like. Additionally, the story shifts between following either of the two protagonists seemingly at random, in a way that feels very clumsy and sloppy.
I am going to attempt to finish the series because I love the initial concept, but I suspect it will be some slow, painful reading to get there.
The problem is that the characters fall incredibly flat, and the writing is so-so. The personalities of the characters are essentially cardboard cut-outs of the noble duchess and rags-to-riches peasant bastard. Although the story is told from both their perspectives at times, I still never felt the two protagonists were anything more than bland. The writing itself is also bland. "Bryan" (actually a pen name for Judith Tarr) speaks about magic at length, but cannot convey either through description or the intuitive feeling of her words what magic is like. So, the reader is simply told that magic does this or that, without any sense of what that might mean or look like. Additionally, the story shifts between following either of the two protagonists seemingly at random, in a way that feels very clumsy and sloppy.
I am going to attempt to finish the series because I love the initial concept, but I suspect it will be some slow, painful reading to get there.
July 27, 2015
This was a good fast read. Pretty short. A little contrived at times, and somewhat overt in its lifting from the Judeo-Christian theology. But overall well written. I liked the main characters, enough that sometimes I felt like throttling them for their actions. There's magic aplenty, if not quite explained. The concept of using glass to store magic is interesting. There is contact with gods, almost-understandable evil, suitable creepiness, and unrequited love. Something will happen to these characters to completely wrench them apart or draw them so close that none can sunder it.[return][return]I'd recommend this. I was a little put out to see it's actually copyrighted to Judith Tarr...who is not a bad author by any stretch, I like her quite a bit, really...but I thought it might be a new author. Eh. It's very obviously the first in a series. It moves along at quite a clip...there's not so much action, per se, but a good amount of tension and some mystery.[return][return](from my site: http://etoiline.vox.com/library/post/...)
October 10, 2009
Not Very Original, Good Read Anyway
I'm kinda turned off by faux-Medieval alternate-historical-Earth fantasy just because that stuff never really interested me like ever. I mean, yeah, okay, I went through that whole King Arthur and the Knights of the yada yada, but I got over it quick. Thankfully, The Serpent and the Rose is tweaked enough that it's wistfully familiar, not over-bearingly so. Good!
So, it's pretty entertaining, a little bit skimpy on connecting the plot-dots with solid lines (some developments and relationships, etc, feel rushed) but it has a good over-all pace. Backstory is building up well if a little sketchily (by that I mean I wish there were MORE details and snippets and foreshadowings), but it's intriguing enough to keep me hooked.
On to book 2...
I'm kinda turned off by faux-Medieval alternate-historical-Earth fantasy just because that stuff never really interested me like ever. I mean, yeah, okay, I went through that whole King Arthur and the Knights of the yada yada, but I got over it quick. Thankfully, The Serpent and the Rose is tweaked enough that it's wistfully familiar, not over-bearingly so. Good!
So, it's pretty entertaining, a little bit skimpy on connecting the plot-dots with solid lines (some developments and relationships, etc, feel rushed) but it has a good over-all pace. Backstory is building up well if a little sketchily (by that I mean I wish there were MORE details and snippets and foreshadowings), but it's intriguing enough to keep me hooked.
On to book 2...
September 14, 2011
This is the first fantasy book I have ever really read. (Well unless you count The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) It was pretty easy to follow even though there was oodles of magic mentioned. The ending just dropped off, but that is to be expected I guess when there is a book 2. I plan on reading book 2, but not right away. I like to give some time between series =)
March 25, 2008
I thought the story was interesting, and I enjoyed the character development. However, I thought the overall plot was lacking in this novel. There was no strong conflict that was resolved. I understand that it's part of a trilogy, but this portion was very anti-climatic.
The mythology of the book combines Christianity with magic, which was a little weird to me.
The author jumps right into the story, and the mythology isn't explained until later, so I felt a little like I had been just dropped in to a foreign country when I first started reading. I had no idea what was going on.
After I got into it, it was an easy read, and I'll probably give the next one in the series a try.
The mythology of the book combines Christianity with magic, which was a little weird to me.
The author jumps right into the story, and the mythology isn't explained until later, so I felt a little like I had been just dropped in to a foreign country when I first started reading. I had no idea what was going on.
After I got into it, it was an easy read, and I'll probably give the next one in the series a try.
September 30, 2009
This fantasy wasn't as good as The Name of the Wind or The Silver Ship and the Sea. Since I read those recently, I couldn't help comparing the three books. This one is medieval (kind of) and the princess has been with the nuns learning magic. A farmer boy has great magic but his mother wants him to stay on the farm. The two eventually meet and discover that together they have great power. They are attracted to each other, too, but won't do anything about it because society has no. She is a princess. He is godborn and lowly. This is the first of a series, so it doesn't really end. I'm not necessarily drawn to read book 2. So I won't.
October 24, 2009
This is the first book of the series. It was interesting enough that I decided to finish the series. I did not like the conclusion. It was not really clear what was going on but there are many places in the book where the writer does not quite make it clear what she is seeing in her mind's eye. All in all it was a good read. I feel like the two main characters were well developed although there are times when they got on my nerves. It is a good book for young adults not just because the characters remain teens throughout the series, its because it really captures the coming of age process well.
December 30, 2010
Fairly standard epic fantasy--ancient evil rising, farmboy with great power and more skilled (but less powerful) female romantic interest to save the day. I found the setting and plot reasonably entertaining, but it didn't set itself sufficiently apart for me.
Kathleen Bryan is a pseudonym for Judith Tarr, so I was expecting something more.
Kathleen Bryan is a pseudonym for Judith Tarr, so I was expecting something more.
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