Green Jasper

The de Granville Trilogy #2

by K.M. Grant

Is it foolish to think that one boy and a blood red horse can save a fair maiden and the throne of England? Will and Gavin de Granville have come back from the crusade older, braver, and definitely wiser. Ellie has been longing for their return. But they've changed. And home is almost as dangerous as the war they've just left. The king is missing. The country is in turmoil. And some men would do anything for power. What will two brothers risk for the woman they both love and the king they have both sworn to protect and serve? In the second book of the de Granville trilogy, Will and Gavin find their family – and all of England – in serious peril.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, Medieval, Teen, Adventure

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2005

About the author

K. M. GRANT was inspired by her own family history to write How the Hangman Lost His Heart. Her ancestor, Colonel Francis Towneley, or Uncle Frank, was the last man in Britain to by hanged, drawn, and quartered. His head was passed down for generations of her family until it was finally reunited with his body just after World War II, when it was buried at St. Peter’s Church. It was Uncle Frank’s colorful legacy that showed her how exciting history could be. K. M. Grant is also the author of the de Granville Trilogy. She lives in Scotland and works as a broadcaster and journalist.

She has recently published her first novel for adults as Katharine Grant. The separate name is to ensure the distinction between works appropriate for young audiences and works with adult material. For more information, see The History Girls: Naming myself, by Katharine Grant.

Reviews

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had the same intensity as the first. I spent quite a few tracks sitting in my car, unable to go into work until I found out if Ellie escaped from Descabius (spelling) or if Hosannah would again be saved. I cried when Descabius rode Hosannah almost to death. He's a wicked man and I absolutely detested him. I love the historical context, 12th century-Crusades-King Richard. I love the characters- so strong, loyal, and honest. I can't wait to read the last book in this trilogy. I've cried numerous times, rooting for this horse.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay but I'm not going to read the last book because I'm tired of Hosanna getting stolen.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

So............................... this book happened.

To my profound disappointment, it wasn't nearly as good as the first one. There was a noted absence of:

• crusades
• Robin Hood
• anybody at all being smart

It seemed like there was a LOT all crammed in, and none of it had enough room to be fully developed. This book deals with everything from the time Prince John makes a bid for the throne, to the end of his would-be coup, and it all seems to go by in a crowded rush. Usurpation has barely begun - and we never get to really see any of it because we're IMPRISONED what feels like THE ENTIRE TIME - before it's over and John is like "haha jk." That's it? Really?

The foundling twin girls Marie and Marissa? I'm still confused about who they are and why they needed to take up room in this story?

Also, this book so quickly undoes ALL the work Blood Red Horse put into rehabilitating Gavin from a childhood bully into a fine man. It sets up this lowkey tension between Gavin and Will because they both love Ellie, sets up Gavin as the betrothed and Will as the clearly superior suitor, and then takes the coward's way out of resolving the problem. Gavin is in a hard spot, admittedly, but he spends the lion's share of the book as a victim, moping and inactive. This seems more like the dude who offset the terror of foreign war by gambling/irresponsibility/carousing rather than the supposedly better and wiser dude who came back from Crusade. You can't respect him based on this book well enough to think he deserves Ellie, even if you try.

Will is almost worse. His self-righteous crazy charge that leads straight into De Scabious's dungeon is pretty sad. Poor fella. He dropped Hosanna right into De Scabious's lap... like how did he think this was going to end? Oh, that's right. He didn't think.

Then, instead of actually somehow resolving the twisted up interpersonal situation we've gotten ourselves into, the author kills Gavin. That way, he redeems himself for his past in a heroic death! And Ellie can be sad for his death and feel faithful to his memory in grief, without actually having to marry him! And then later she's still free to marry Will! Everyone's happy! Convenient.

Kamil and the random boy who saved Will were my favorite parts of this book. Ellie was great too, as always, if she were only ALLOWED TO DO THINGS. I would probably read the 3rd and final installment if someone gave it to me for free, but I don't think I would pay money for it.

[Shayshkers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a longer read with a better payoff. Quite an emotional climax and I'm excited to read the last book in the trilogy.

[Spynonu]

I enjoyed BLOOD RED HORSE but this book was a bit over the top for me. The author develops her characters nicely but unlike the first book everyones bizarre obsession with the horse is over the top and creepy.

[Gay Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will look for the third in the trilogy now. I like the subtle interplay between christianity and a Muslim Seracin fighter. I like the characters, the setting, and the ongoing saga of how or if Richard the Lion Hearted will return to the throne.

However this book had too much reiteration from book one. After reading about half, the story started clicking and provided more suspense and intrigue. Two orphaned sisters have turned up in the castle. Plus a scrappy peasant is now integral in the plot. He's been invited to be a squire.

[Samihah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my wordd did I appreciate the lack of crusades in this book. I love the general plot. Ellie is such a great, strong character. It did drag in places though and it felt like the Hosanna storylines became veryy repetitive. I love horses, but I got fed up of how obsessed everyone is with him. Killing Gavin felt like an easy way out of the love triangle, but his death was sad. I'm so so happy that Ellie & Will are 'Endgame' though.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this book and i love the characters though this book made me want to shake them

but spoilers they know that the last time they saw De Scabious he spent most of the time lying through his teeth and Gavin believed him straight away like wow Gavin i love you but why the instant belief

[Nicole]

This is a YA book. At least it’s marketed as such. Yet how does this have so much more melancholy than many adult books I’ve read??
I remember it for all the hollow, bitter feelings it evoked.

[Hollive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has an old-fashioned feel, mostly in a good way.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

William and Gavin de Granville continue their adventures in Green Jasper. The boys are a little older and a little wiser as they begin life at home after the Crusades: William is Earl of Ravensgarth and Gavin is Count of Hartslove now. Ellie and Gavin are about to be married when the horrible, foul-breathed Constable de Scabious interrupts the ceremony claiming that King Richard is dead; therefore, the fickle Prince John is the new king. Because de Scabious has sworn loyalty to John, he now has power and demands that Ellie marry himself instead of Gavin. De Scabious and his men attack Hartslove’s knights and then kidnap not only poor Ellie, but Will’s special horse Hosanna as well.

Meanwhile, Kamil is now in England. Having reluctantly followed the advice of sick and elderly Saladin, the Saracen leader who had adopted him when he was a boy, he fled Palestine. Saladin was sure that the other emirs would attack Kamil once Saladin died and was no longer around to protect him. Saladin also requested that Kamil find King Richard to tell him that the war between them is over but to never come to the Holy Land again. Though unhappy with this advice and request, Kamil listens to his father-figure and heads to England. However, he won’t be reuniting with just King Richard—he will find the de Granvilles and Hosanna as well.

Green Jasper is the second book in the de Granville Trilogy. Readers don’t necessarily need to have read Blood Red Horse to understand the events in this book; rather, the author has written them as almost two separate stories with the same characters. Full of the action and suspense of conflicted twelfth-century England, this book is a fast-paced read that is sure to keep readers of both genders on the edge of their seats.

[Lady Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this when I was in high school and I absolutely loved it. Reading it now, I find that this is not nearly as good as I remembered. It is still good, but not the 'amazing' I thought it was.

Unlike the amazing "Blood Red Horse", "Green Jasper" is set in England just after the Crusades and during King Richard's captivity. While Prince John is attempting to secure the throne for himself, Ellie and Gavin are due to be married. Will is still heartbroken and angry with Gavin for a wide varity of imagined failings. During the ceremony, Constable de Scabious arrives and with the authority of 'King' John kidnaps Ellie and proclaims that she will shortly be marrying him. During the ensuing fray, Gavin is once again grievously wounded and cannot lead the chase. Will is furious with his brother and dashes off with Hal (his squire) to rescue Ellie. But acting in the heat of the moment proves to be a bad idea and Will and Hall soon find themselves in even worse straights...

Meanwhile, Kamil is essentially evicted from the Holy Land when Saladin dies and en route to England to share this news with King Richard (as per Saladin's dying request) learns that the king is being held in Austria. When he is allowed to meet Richard, he is entrusted with a letter that he must get to the de Granvilles. Kamil agrees believing that successfully completing a mission of this magnitude certainly deserves compensation... perhaps in the forma of a certain red horse...

So much of this story is about faith. Faith in family, faith in loved ones, faith in the crown, faith in the triumph of good, etc. "Green Jasper" is really a fitting title for the book.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I read all but the prologue and the first chapter in essentially one sitting, which always speaks wells of a book, the end depressed me. Perhaps when I'm feeling less mopey, I will be able to look back upon the novel with less disappointment. But right now, I just wanna curl up in bed and sleep. But, like I said, I'm feeling kind of mopey, and there's homework, and school in the morning. If I had read it over the summer, I might not be so un-thrilled with it. So I want anyone reading this to ignore my silly ramblings and decide for yourself. G'night.

[Moriah Hendrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the first book in this series stood on its own very well. The sequel wasn't really necessary, so that soured it a little from the beginning. I don't really enjoy books where the villain is too...well, villainous, if you know what I mean. At certain points in the book the villain was so inhuman and emotionless that he wasn't even a believable character anymore. But I'm really only listing the bad things. Overall, I found the book to be enjoyable, historically accurate, and engaging.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one much quicker than the first one. For young and old alike that like classic tales of knights and damsels in distress, this story will not fail to please. As an added plus, none of the damsels in this story are helpless and characters of all sorts display their heroism. It is a very straightforward, well-told yarn that is not terribly complex. Sometimes, I need a little of that.

The ending was quite sad, and I think perhaps more than the first one, clearly leads into a sequel.

[Devin Brooksby · Rating 5 out of 5]

(B1)It is a action packed book with fighting, romance, and loads of suspence. In this book, there is more than a fare maiden at stake, but the throne of England. And, all that stands between right and wrong are a Blood red hore and his master.Did I mention that the king's life is at stake. not to mention his subjectes loyalty.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an autographed copy of this for my daughter since I met the author at ALA. This is the sequel to Blood Red Horse. I didn't think it was as good as the original, but I love stuff about the Crusades.[return][return]Having returned to a politically unstable England after the Crusades, brothers Will and Gavin--with the help of the red horse Hosanna--attempt to rescue their friend Ellie who is being held prisoner by an enemy of King Richard I.

[Trishelle Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't like this book as much as the first and third one in the series. I'm not sure why, but I think a few of the new characters may play into the reason.
I didn't bother me about Gavin's death though. I thought it added so much more to the story, and the way it was done was just heartbreaking.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would really be a 3 1/2 star book. I just wasn't as good as the first one. It seemed shallow and unoriginal. I didn't get as into the characters minds as in the first book. I am actually writing this after reading the third book though which was fantastic. Although this book was disappointing you still should get through it just so you can read the third one.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Green Jasper" was soooo much better than "Blood Red Horse"! It was full of adventure, history and romance, without feeling juvenile in the least. Although this was a continuation of the first book, with all the same characters, I think you could read it all on its own and not miss anything. I can't wait to see how the third book ends!

[Madeline S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knights! Appear for battle! Green Jasper, the second book on the de Granville trilogy, is one exciting book. Ellie and Hossana( a horse) are kidnapped, and Will and Gavin must get on their horses on a journey to save them. Frankly, action books aren't really my favorite, but with a tad of fantasy, I really can't put them down!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Green Jasper continues to follow the characters of "Blood Red Horse." The de Granville brothers have returned to England from the crusdaes in the Holy Land. Prince John has proclaimed himself King claiming that Richard is dead. Gavin and Will are faced with choosing whom to believe and whom to trust. A bit too much infatuation with horses for my taste.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fitting sequel to Blood Red Horse - though difficult to get through at the end. It's heartbreaking and full of hope all at the same time - and again, Hosanna is a thing of legend. I hope that this book isn't one that only someone who has understood horses can appreciate; I loved it because I have known horses similar to Hosanna, who were so much more than "just a horse."

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first, but it definitely did not pass the Hawaii test (I was not excited to get back to the airport to read it, like I was when I read "Twilight" the first time I went to Hawaii). But it was still good, and I felt like there was a better plot line than in the first book. I have high hopes for the last book in the series...

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will and Gavin have returned from crusade, and Gavin is marrying Ellie. But on the day of the wedding, Ellie is kidnapped by Constable Scabious, and Will is captured trying to rescue her. Rumors that King Richard is dead and his brother John is now king paralyzes Gavin. The red horse Hossana is the only thing that can bring them all together to face the truth.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful historical fiction about life in England during the reign of King Richard. After the crusades King Richard is imprisoned and loyalties in the land shift when his brother John attempts to retain the crown. The story is of two brothers loyal to Richard and their childhood friend Ellie whose very life and happiness is in jeopardy.

[Arianna h · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is really really good!!!!! Its in the de Grandville trigoly. The first is blood red horse, third blaze of silver. its like a castle thats kind of under war, and a lot of people are captured. Its amazingly well written!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the 2nd book, it has a bit of a sad ending. But there is supposely to be a 3rd book called Blaze of Silver. I am looking for it in my library. The characters come alive out of the book and I LOVE Hosanna!!!

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the second book in this series which involved my favorite character Kamil, the re-emergence of the evil lord who wished to marry Ellie, who is again after her hand in marriage for her lands. Prince John is trying to take over and Will hotheadedly ends up in and out of ruts.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I loved this book too. The character's progressed and the author wrote it so that toward each character there was a distinct feeling. And how could anyone not love Hosanna? All I have to say is that this trilogy is definitely one of my favorites.