What do you think?
Rate this book
The Knights Chronicles #1
Afton of Margate Castle
In this tale of medieval lords and serfs, a peasant girl is taken from her family to be raised as the earl's daughter -- an account of adventure, romance, and struggle to survive desperate times.
Beautiful, headstrong Afton is taken from her parents at an early age and raised in the castle, a companion to the Earl's daughter. Schooled in the ways of kings and surrounded by splendor. Afton falls in love with the Earl's son, Calhoun.
But Calhoun's mother has much different plans for her son than marriage to a lowborn lady’s companion.
When Afton's world is viciously torn apart, she is left with nothing but a burning desire for vengeance.
Beautiful, headstrong Afton is taken from her parents at an early age and raised in the castle, a companion to the Earl's daughter. Schooled in the ways of kings and surrounded by splendor. Afton falls in love with the Earl's son, Calhoun.
But Calhoun's mother has much different plans for her son than marriage to a lowborn lady’s companion.
When Afton's world is viciously torn apart, she is left with nothing but a burning desire for vengeance.
490 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
170 people are currently reading
743 people want to read
About the author
Angela Elwell Hunt
272 books1,945 followersChristy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.
Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.
Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.
Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.
In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.
Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.
Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.
Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.
In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 29, 2015
There was a decent story in this novel, but I fear it was wrapped or so thoroughly in the negatives that I could not enjoy it. It was possible to sympathise with the characters, at least at first, but the device of throwing every possible ill circumstance conceivable (and some inconceivable) at the characters for as long as possible, seemed to be to become stretched and predictable after a while.
To me, some of the motivations of the characters and situations also seemed-a little far –fetched- something akin to, “We can do defy the law, abuse people an’ get away with it cos’ it not America and it’s the Medieval times”.
A faulty assumption if there ever was one- rule of law has its origins in Medieval England, and I for one have never heard of peasants’ children being taken as tribute by the nobility- yet this is the major basis of the plot.
I don’t doubt that some research has been done on the time period- though I wonder if it extended to the plants and animal life of the British Isles considering the references to potatoes and characters being given Turkey to eat, as well a bear and a Hickory tree. The former were not introduced to Britain, from the Americas, until at least the 1500s, four centuries after this novel is set, and Hickory is certainly not indigenous to the UK.
The biggest issues with me, however, was the imposition of modern standards, values and beliefs onto the past, mainly with the protagonists who judge their fellows and the world around them by these standards, and the inclusion of a number of myths, misconceptions, and misinformation about the Middle Ages into the story.
I understand the author might have wanted to incorporate Evangelical Christianity into the story, and that’s all well and good, but along with this are 20th century ideals, and a hint of political correctness (demonstrated in the hero’s belief- not consist with the time that many people who went on Crusade were ‘religious fanatics’- I doubt twelfth century people had the some definition of fanaticism that we do- and being told that Muslims had as much of a claim to Jerusalem as anyone else.)
A knight who stubbornly clings to pacifist sentiments is a severe aberration in itself, but the hero Calhoun’s pontificating about the supposed ‘cruelty’ and ‘bloody ways’ of King Henry I suggested an entirely unrealistic and naïve view of the world and the period on his part. The accusation of cruelty was based on an incident, recounted in the early chapters, in which the King had his granddaughters blinded, which is made to seem like a wanton act of sadism by a paranoid tyrant (perhaps in part due to the misreporting of 20th century historians). In reality, this incident was a response to the girl’s father, and the King’s son in law having had his own hostage, the young son of another Lord, blinded, and apparently believing he could get away with it because he was related to the King.
Herein lies the crux of the matter- Medieval Kings had to be tough, and to a certain extent hard, to maintain their credibility, law and order, and keep the nobility in check. A King who allowed his son-in-law escape punishment for such an act as that recounted above would have caused his nobles to believe he didn’t care about justice and was prepared to allow his friends and relatives to get away with murder.
I doubt any King who espoused the ideals of Calhoun would have lasted long, and the fact that Henry’s reign bought peace to England for 30 years, when that of King Stephen resulted in 20 years of civil war shows who was the more successful King by Medieval standards. Yet modern judgement prevails, and Stephen is presented in a far more favourable light.
Afton, the peasant heroine, is also modern in her outlook, reflecting feminist and so some extent, socialist sentiments as well as an apparently modern attitude towards God allowing suffering.
I understand her abusive marriage put her off men, but here insistence that she could ‘look after herself’ just did not always seem credible.
Afton believed her husband had the ‘right’ to kill her if he suspected her of adultery, or even if she failed to please him- which culminated in him dragging her out into the garden and trying to burn her. One would think that having been raised in a Castle, she would have a better knowledge of English law- as she cites it later on.
In years of studying the Middle Ages at degree level I have never once come across any law, custom or precedent in Medieval England which allowed a man to kill his wife on the mere suspicion of adultery- for any kind of legal penalty to be implemented-usually a fine, whipping or the confiscation of land- the woman usually had to be physically caught in the act.
Also, burning was never a punishment for this offence in England, so not even evil and horrid Hubert, husband of Afton could have just got away with such a thing.
Overall, I think the representation of the nasty and unpleasant aspects of this period were exaggerated and life for women and peasants at the time made to seem worse than it really was. I don’t blame the author for this, it’s probably the sources which were the problem- but it’s not correct that women and peasants had no rights. Nor was I convinced by the idea that peasants never washed- one does not have to have a full sized bathtub in order to do this. Accompanied with the usual tropes of black teeth and non-existent table manners, the depiction of the period struck me as unrealistic and clichéd.
All the above, coupled with some passages that bordered on the erotic made this a tiresome and often quite frustrating read for me. For me, this is certainly not a book for keeps or, I might suggest, one to please those seeking an accurate presentation of this fascinating and formative period. I might just stick to Cadfael…
To me, some of the motivations of the characters and situations also seemed-a little far –fetched- something akin to, “We can do defy the law, abuse people an’ get away with it cos’ it not America and it’s the Medieval times”.
A faulty assumption if there ever was one- rule of law has its origins in Medieval England, and I for one have never heard of peasants’ children being taken as tribute by the nobility- yet this is the major basis of the plot.
I don’t doubt that some research has been done on the time period- though I wonder if it extended to the plants and animal life of the British Isles considering the references to potatoes and characters being given Turkey to eat, as well a bear and a Hickory tree. The former were not introduced to Britain, from the Americas, until at least the 1500s, four centuries after this novel is set, and Hickory is certainly not indigenous to the UK.
The biggest issues with me, however, was the imposition of modern standards, values and beliefs onto the past, mainly with the protagonists who judge their fellows and the world around them by these standards, and the inclusion of a number of myths, misconceptions, and misinformation about the Middle Ages into the story.
I understand the author might have wanted to incorporate Evangelical Christianity into the story, and that’s all well and good, but along with this are 20th century ideals, and a hint of political correctness (demonstrated in the hero’s belief- not consist with the time that many people who went on Crusade were ‘religious fanatics’- I doubt twelfth century people had the some definition of fanaticism that we do- and being told that Muslims had as much of a claim to Jerusalem as anyone else.)
A knight who stubbornly clings to pacifist sentiments is a severe aberration in itself, but the hero Calhoun’s pontificating about the supposed ‘cruelty’ and ‘bloody ways’ of King Henry I suggested an entirely unrealistic and naïve view of the world and the period on his part. The accusation of cruelty was based on an incident, recounted in the early chapters, in which the King had his granddaughters blinded, which is made to seem like a wanton act of sadism by a paranoid tyrant (perhaps in part due to the misreporting of 20th century historians). In reality, this incident was a response to the girl’s father, and the King’s son in law having had his own hostage, the young son of another Lord, blinded, and apparently believing he could get away with it because he was related to the King.
Herein lies the crux of the matter- Medieval Kings had to be tough, and to a certain extent hard, to maintain their credibility, law and order, and keep the nobility in check. A King who allowed his son-in-law escape punishment for such an act as that recounted above would have caused his nobles to believe he didn’t care about justice and was prepared to allow his friends and relatives to get away with murder.
I doubt any King who espoused the ideals of Calhoun would have lasted long, and the fact that Henry’s reign bought peace to England for 30 years, when that of King Stephen resulted in 20 years of civil war shows who was the more successful King by Medieval standards. Yet modern judgement prevails, and Stephen is presented in a far more favourable light.
Afton, the peasant heroine, is also modern in her outlook, reflecting feminist and so some extent, socialist sentiments as well as an apparently modern attitude towards God allowing suffering.
I understand her abusive marriage put her off men, but here insistence that she could ‘look after herself’ just did not always seem credible.
Afton believed her husband had the ‘right’ to kill her if he suspected her of adultery, or even if she failed to please him- which culminated in him dragging her out into the garden and trying to burn her. One would think that having been raised in a Castle, she would have a better knowledge of English law- as she cites it later on.
In years of studying the Middle Ages at degree level I have never once come across any law, custom or precedent in Medieval England which allowed a man to kill his wife on the mere suspicion of adultery- for any kind of legal penalty to be implemented-usually a fine, whipping or the confiscation of land- the woman usually had to be physically caught in the act.
Also, burning was never a punishment for this offence in England, so not even evil and horrid Hubert, husband of Afton could have just got away with such a thing.
Overall, I think the representation of the nasty and unpleasant aspects of this period were exaggerated and life for women and peasants at the time made to seem worse than it really was. I don’t blame the author for this, it’s probably the sources which were the problem- but it’s not correct that women and peasants had no rights. Nor was I convinced by the idea that peasants never washed- one does not have to have a full sized bathtub in order to do this. Accompanied with the usual tropes of black teeth and non-existent table manners, the depiction of the period struck me as unrealistic and clichéd.
All the above, coupled with some passages that bordered on the erotic made this a tiresome and often quite frustrating read for me. For me, this is certainly not a book for keeps or, I might suggest, one to please those seeking an accurate presentation of this fascinating and formative period. I might just stick to Cadfael…
October 26, 2018
First thing that determined how I'd hated this book. beauty is considered golden had and gray eyes. dark hair is diminished in this book. as well as the use of the word Negroes which I hardly think was used during that period. Then we have small children with more mature minds with thoughts far exceeding that of a hopeless romantic adult. At nine years old the main character is speaking as if she's a 16yr old love struck girl. The reality escapes me when you have a 13yr old marrying a 50+ yr old which a custom to time period but also doesn't feel real if her mind set seems as if an elderly women. Also lets not mention her two children that ultimately fair horribly one scarred for life only to give her life to her mother and the other a evil knight because of her previous husbands personality. As if she couldn't have perfect children unless she was with her soul mate destined from the beginning. Some how that disgusts me...Not to mention all the times more things could have been done or said but weren't for the sake of plot I presume
Oh how I hated this book...the Edeline woman infuriated me in a horrible way the relationships between the two main characters constantly felt forced, Afton is on the title but the book seems to bounce back between so many characters it's so difficult to keep up. the lack of so many things irritated me. it's a slow and boring book. I don't want more and I don't want to read anymore of this series. I found the book depressing and unsatisfying. if I want to read a book about blunt realistic cruelty with no positivity whatsoever not even within the final pages I shall read a GRRM book. truly upset with this
Oh how I hated this book...the Edeline woman infuriated me in a horrible way the relationships between the two main characters constantly felt forced, Afton is on the title but the book seems to bounce back between so many characters it's so difficult to keep up. the lack of so many things irritated me. it's a slow and boring book. I don't want more and I don't want to read anymore of this series. I found the book depressing and unsatisfying. if I want to read a book about blunt realistic cruelty with no positivity whatsoever not even within the final pages I shall read a GRRM book. truly upset with this
January 20, 2012
This book has a fabulous historic world...and a dreadful plot. I loved the detail into the medieval world, but spent the last half of the book wanting to smack the characters for being dumb. Their decisions could have been fleshed out much better, as could the two romance protagonists' relationship to each other. We know they love each other, but we don't really have any good idea why, since they seem to barely know each other.
If it's really a love that can endure literal decades of separation, the reader needs to understand why the characters pine for each other. The ending was, until the last ten pages, quite frankly ridiculous. The characters made nonsensical decisions, because we didn't get to see into their heads in any but the most superficial way.
But the world was so good that I was particularly disappointed in the lack of character depth. I wanted to love this book, but just couldn't.
If it's really a love that can endure literal decades of separation, the reader needs to understand why the characters pine for each other. The ending was, until the last ten pages, quite frankly ridiculous. The characters made nonsensical decisions, because we didn't get to see into their heads in any but the most superficial way.
But the world was so good that I was particularly disappointed in the lack of character depth. I wanted to love this book, but just couldn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2011
I love this book! It's slow, it's sweet, sometimes I don't remember why I love it so much but I always will. The story is about two people who fall in love and get separated and their journey to get back together. Some terrible things happen and some wonderful things happen but I guess what I still love is the message that love can endure that long. For me it's a hopeful story of two people who never give up. No one else in the world may like this book but I love it!
April 1, 2020
This was an amazing book! I have loved the other books I've read by Angela Hunt, and have always been amazed at how she writes a story. This book did not disappoint. It was one of those that I couldn't wait to get back to when I had to put it down. It was set in medieval England, a setting I'm not so familiar with, and was most excellently written. I highly recommend it and can't wait to read the others in the series.
July 24, 2011
My sister brought this home from the library. As always I glanced through the books to see if any interested me, when I came across this one.From the first page I was trapped in the world and never put the book down. Amazing
December 27, 2010
excellent picture of Christianity in medieval times
November 13, 2022
I tried reading this book probably five or six years ago because we got the Kindle version for free. I immediately deleted it afterward.
I recall rape, specifically a much older man forcing himself on a girl -- a child (although not super gratuitous that I remember; nothing was ever mentioned in detail) and sadistic behavior from said much older man to child (like . I really remember this scene; talk about screwed up). Plus it was just so slow and I don't remember the writing being anything that drew me in. And the plot was hard to comprehend.
Yeah. A lot going on in this book; too much, in fact, and I usually like books with intricate plots.
Anyway. Consider this a warning and don't read this book. I've liked others by Ms. Hunt, but this will never be one of them. There's a lot of diabolical content and it's just not a book any child of any age should read.
I recall rape, specifically a much older man forcing himself on a girl -- a child (although not super gratuitous that I remember; nothing was ever mentioned in detail) and sadistic behavior from said much older man to child (like . I really remember this scene; talk about screwed up). Plus it was just so slow and I don't remember the writing being anything that drew me in. And the plot was hard to comprehend.
Yeah. A lot going on in this book; too much, in fact, and I usually like books with intricate plots.
Anyway. Consider this a warning and don't read this book. I've liked others by Ms. Hunt, but this will never be one of them. There's a lot of diabolical content and it's just not a book any child of any age should read.
February 6, 2024
If you admire Thomas Hardy’s writings of the cruel dominion of lords over their peasants, you’ll love Afton of Margate Castle.
This is a prince and commoner love story, with a powerful nobleman’s son who dreams of being an honorable knight, yet who loves a rather feisty, independent peasant girl. As her mother declares, “We are poor because we have no power. We have no voice. If we had twenty cows, we would still own nothing. All that we call ours is the property of Lord Perceval. We do not even own the children we and God have created.”
This book is rich with medieval lore and charm: woods and castles, warring factions and treachery, love triangles and abandonment. However, it is also full of brokenness, horror and agonizing disappointment. Brutality reigns throughout this story. Manipulation of a level that is so cruel, it takes one’s breath away.
This is no casual read.
This is a prince and commoner love story, with a powerful nobleman’s son who dreams of being an honorable knight, yet who loves a rather feisty, independent peasant girl. As her mother declares, “We are poor because we have no power. We have no voice. If we had twenty cows, we would still own nothing. All that we call ours is the property of Lord Perceval. We do not even own the children we and God have created.”
This book is rich with medieval lore and charm: woods and castles, warring factions and treachery, love triangles and abandonment. However, it is also full of brokenness, horror and agonizing disappointment. Brutality reigns throughout this story. Manipulation of a level that is so cruel, it takes one’s breath away.
This is no casual read.
September 4, 2018
An excellent novel, cleverly written with such topics as honour, humility, forgiveness and the Sovereignty of God clearly woven together. Hunt obviously did her research on life in the medieval age, portraying a realistic portrait for Afton, the daughter of a villein (slave) and Calhoun, the son of the Lord of Margate. While the two are in love at a young age, both are vastly separated not only by distance but by circumstances as Calhoun leaves to become a knight and Afton is forced into marriage with a miller. Numerous, although realistic (for that time period) situations arise giving the reader a wonder if any good will come for either character. It made my mind reel and kept me guessing as to what would happen right until the end!
September 2, 2019
I was scrolling through my Kindle and discovered this one--probably downloaded a million years ago for free. I love Angela Hunt but didn't know she'd ever written this one.
Anyway, this book was...I don't know how else to say it--but it felt old-fashioned. At times, it reminded me of a Frances Hodgson Burnett book. I can't put my finger on it--but it had to do with the slowness, the characters never-catching-a-break and the entire epic-ness of it.
I'd been in a reading slump for a bit (like...you know, a whole week) and was glad to fall into this lovely transporting book.
Anyway, this book was...I don't know how else to say it--but it felt old-fashioned. At times, it reminded me of a Frances Hodgson Burnett book. I can't put my finger on it--but it had to do with the slowness, the characters never-catching-a-break and the entire epic-ness of it.
I'd been in a reading slump for a bit (like...you know, a whole week) and was glad to fall into this lovely transporting book.
June 9, 2017
The romance is very light. The 1st part of the book (~1/3 or so is focused on the heroine's childhood. Thereafter as a adult there is no "falling in love" story which is usually the part that I enjoy most when well written. It's more a 'how do they get together'. Flipped over quite a bit of the story. It's also rather dark.
September 17, 2018
Tough to read
While I submit that Book is well written, I found it hard to read. There was a lot of violence and death. I know that it has always existed and it may have been more prevalent during this time period, but I just don’t need it imprinted on my brain. There was so much in this book.
While I submit that Book is well written, I found it hard to read. There was a lot of violence and death. I know that it has always existed and it may have been more prevalent during this time period, but I just don’t need it imprinted on my brain. There was so much in this book.
August 17, 2019
Not my style
I've always enjoyed Angela Hunt's books, but maybe I just don't enjoy Medieval stories. Having approximately 13 named characters die in one book is a bit much for me. I really enjoyed Afton and felt her emotions well.
I've always enjoyed Angela Hunt's books, but maybe I just don't enjoy Medieval stories. Having approximately 13 named characters die in one book is a bit much for me. I really enjoyed Afton and felt her emotions well.
November 22, 2019
Loved this book,
Love how Afton becomes strong despite the actions of others, almost makes it in relation to modern young woman of today, a must read, but be prepared to want to read her next series
Love how Afton becomes strong despite the actions of others, almost makes it in relation to modern young woman of today, a must read, but be prepared to want to read her next series
September 6, 2021
A very dramatic story, full of ups and downs so that you are never sure how it will end. I appreciated the research Hunt did in regards to life in the Medieval period making the novel realistic (although uncomfortable for us today as well as hard to understand).
October 31, 2021
The pacing was off to me and the last 100/120 pages were the most interesting. If the author hadn't broken the stories into sections but kept it flowing I feel it wouldn't have been so noticeable.
Recommended 14+ for violence, assault/abuse, and other topics not appropriate for younger readers.
Recommended 14+ for violence, assault/abuse, and other topics not appropriate for younger readers.
October 24, 2024
Historical fiction at its best.
Angela Hunt is fast becoming a favorite. This is a sad but beautiful tale of life in England during the 1100’s. It tells of knights, royalty and a most desperate despair of poverty of the common people. Incredible characters. A real page turner.
Angela Hunt is fast becoming a favorite. This is a sad but beautiful tale of life in England during the 1100’s. It tells of knights, royalty and a most desperate despair of poverty of the common people. Incredible characters. A real page turner.
August 1, 2025
brilliant but gory
Absolutely brilliant. Very atmospheric/authentic, just couldn’t stop reading! A tale with many facets-great characters, a seam of romance but quite gory in places. A truly awesome read.
Absolutely brilliant. Very atmospheric/authentic, just couldn’t stop reading! A tale with many facets-great characters, a seam of romance but quite gory in places. A truly awesome read.
September 10, 2018
Castle
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, look forward to reading more of her books . Kattie
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, look forward to reading more of her books . Kattie
November 12, 2018
Great story!
Wonderful period piece, great characters and enough action to keep you interested. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Wonderful period piece, great characters and enough action to keep you interested. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
April 29, 2025
This was a very good book, I liked the author’s storytelling.
July 19, 2019
I picked this book up at a local thrift shop. I was drawn to it due to cover picture, castles, knights and damsels in distress! The description on the back cover also reeled me into purchasing! I am mostly a historical romance reader. I like medieval stories.
This was not what I expected and was hard to read! Like the title said, it is about Afton of Margate Castle. The first few chapters are loaded with violence and horrible things happening to Afton! I kept having to tell myself it was the 12th century, these things were probably acceptable! Yikes!
I kept having to do math to make sure I had her age right! Another reviewer said she was 13 married to a 50 yr old, ok probably common for that time. At the end of the book I think she is in her 30's.
So many awful depressing things happened to Afton during the course of the book that frankly, I don't know how she kept from flinging herself off of a high cliff! I guess that is where here faith in God was applied. The author tried really hard to show God's faithfulness in hard times. Especially in Calhoon's life and trials with Faulk. I really liked Calhoon, at least until the end when he was callous and rejected Afton AGAIN after rescuing her from a wedding. Maybe it was because he and Faulk (I was so sad when he died) spent 12 yrs in captivity! 12 yrs! I felt that time frame was a bit much for survival in horrible conditions. Author kinda left them hanging in captivity till she could figure out what to do next!
Like previous reviewers, I felt that the story jumped around way too much. I kept wondering when Afton was going to find out her daughter was in fact alive? Not enough in the story line about the daughter. I was so bummed that even when reunited, Afton was denied joy and happiness! What?!She finds her, doesn't know she has found her and then loses her again! AAARGH! I really was shocked at the end result and almost cried for Afton!
There was only happiness in the epilogue, glad I didn't read that first!
I gave this a 3 star review because, it DID hold my attention, I wanted to read and find out if Afton and Calhoon would ever be able to be together and put aside the demons of life! Ugh! Really? last few pages and the epilogue! Looks like the troubadour has his own story, not sure if I will try to find it.
One reviewer said scenes bordered on erotic-where? When? There is no sexual activity, only chaste kisses and hugs. Well, the wedding night...but she only talks about it thru Afton's POV after, how brutal, probably rape and awful he was. no actual sexual activity description.
It felt a little like Calhoon's mom was a little on the incestuous side with Afton's teenage son- even though no, blood relation, she had raised Afton as a daughter and then managed to take her son away and raise HIM as a son and the description of how she related to him was a little icky. But she was icky and I wish SHE had fallen to her death!
See, it did earn some stars, it wrapped me up in the characters and I like that! I just wish she had done more good romance development with Afton and Calhoon. Maybe an actual tame love scene! Jaded romance reader here! Maybe less side characters and bad guys, It was hard to keep them all straight! Overall, I'd recommend this book if you can handle some dark issues.
This was not what I expected and was hard to read! Like the title said, it is about Afton of Margate Castle. The first few chapters are loaded with violence and horrible things happening to Afton! I kept having to tell myself it was the 12th century, these things were probably acceptable! Yikes!
I kept having to do math to make sure I had her age right! Another reviewer said she was 13 married to a 50 yr old, ok probably common for that time. At the end of the book I think she is in her 30's.
So many awful depressing things happened to Afton during the course of the book that frankly, I don't know how she kept from flinging herself off of a high cliff! I guess that is where here faith in God was applied. The author tried really hard to show God's faithfulness in hard times. Especially in Calhoon's life and trials with Faulk. I really liked Calhoon, at least until the end when he was callous and rejected Afton AGAIN after rescuing her from a wedding. Maybe it was because he and Faulk (I was so sad when he died) spent 12 yrs in captivity! 12 yrs! I felt that time frame was a bit much for survival in horrible conditions. Author kinda left them hanging in captivity till she could figure out what to do next!
Like previous reviewers, I felt that the story jumped around way too much. I kept wondering when Afton was going to find out her daughter was in fact alive? Not enough in the story line about the daughter. I was so bummed that even when reunited, Afton was denied joy and happiness! What?!She finds her, doesn't know she has found her and then loses her again! AAARGH! I really was shocked at the end result and almost cried for Afton!
There was only happiness in the epilogue, glad I didn't read that first!
I gave this a 3 star review because, it DID hold my attention, I wanted to read and find out if Afton and Calhoon would ever be able to be together and put aside the demons of life! Ugh! Really? last few pages and the epilogue! Looks like the troubadour has his own story, not sure if I will try to find it.
One reviewer said scenes bordered on erotic-where? When? There is no sexual activity, only chaste kisses and hugs. Well, the wedding night...but she only talks about it thru Afton's POV after, how brutal, probably rape and awful he was. no actual sexual activity description.
It felt a little like Calhoon's mom was a little on the incestuous side with Afton's teenage son- even though no, blood relation, she had raised Afton as a daughter and then managed to take her son away and raise HIM as a son and the description of how she related to him was a little icky. But she was icky and I wish SHE had fallen to her death!
See, it did earn some stars, it wrapped me up in the characters and I like that! I just wish she had done more good romance development with Afton and Calhoon. Maybe an actual tame love scene! Jaded romance reader here! Maybe less side characters and bad guys, It was hard to keep them all straight! Overall, I'd recommend this book if you can handle some dark issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this epic tale set in medieval England. It was full of unrequited love, adventure, tragedy, friendship, angst, honor, treachery, battles, losses—and finally—victory and happiness, though it was hard-won, not without its own loss, and not wrapped up as tidily as I'd wished. But it sure made for an interesting story with an ending that satisfied me.
I loved the medieval settings; this is my favorite time period. The author clearly did her research on the people, places, customs, and societal classes of the time period, and every time I was lucky enough to sit down and read for a spell, I was quickly and completely transported to this time and place, which was a wonderful escape (my favorite thing about reading!). The romance was squeaky clean if you like to steer clear of any steam.
There were some flaws that kept me from absolutely loving the book. I read the Kindle edition (it was a freebie), and the errors were plentiful and annoying. Not just spelling/grammatical errors, but glaring errors like missing words, and even sometimes entire phrases were missing. These were not few and far between, but common occurrences that had to be dealt with every few pages, it seemed.
As for the writing, I was frustrated by the lack of character development, especially in the main characters. Afton, especially, was hard to really "feel" and understand. I often had no idea why she did (or thought) some of the things she did. I still pulled for her and wanted desperately for her to have happiness instead of the almost constant heartbreak she had to bear, but on the other hand, some of her heartbreak was her own doing, and I still can't figure out what her reasons were for her foolish actions and decisions at those times. Foolish pride was the supposed answer, but she made the same bitter mistakes over and over again, to the point I wondered why I was even pulling for her. The same goes for the other main character, Calhoun. Although I felt his character was a bit more understandable than Afton, he, also, was a victim of his own overblown pride time and again, and never seemed to learn from these foolish mistakes.
Overall, the story was interesting and enjoyable. While it was a bit slow to start (I found the first 20% of the book to be slow), once it got going, I found it hard to put down. It kept me up late into the night several times. There were many twists and turns, and I found myself on the edge of my seat on more than a few occasions. 4 solid stars.
I loved the medieval settings; this is my favorite time period. The author clearly did her research on the people, places, customs, and societal classes of the time period, and every time I was lucky enough to sit down and read for a spell, I was quickly and completely transported to this time and place, which was a wonderful escape (my favorite thing about reading!). The romance was squeaky clean if you like to steer clear of any steam.
There were some flaws that kept me from absolutely loving the book. I read the Kindle edition (it was a freebie), and the errors were plentiful and annoying. Not just spelling/grammatical errors, but glaring errors like missing words, and even sometimes entire phrases were missing. These were not few and far between, but common occurrences that had to be dealt with every few pages, it seemed.
As for the writing, I was frustrated by the lack of character development, especially in the main characters. Afton, especially, was hard to really "feel" and understand. I often had no idea why she did (or thought) some of the things she did. I still pulled for her and wanted desperately for her to have happiness instead of the almost constant heartbreak she had to bear, but on the other hand, some of her heartbreak was her own doing, and I still can't figure out what her reasons were for her foolish actions and decisions at those times. Foolish pride was the supposed answer, but she made the same bitter mistakes over and over again, to the point I wondered why I was even pulling for her. The same goes for the other main character, Calhoun. Although I felt his character was a bit more understandable than Afton, he, also, was a victim of his own overblown pride time and again, and never seemed to learn from these foolish mistakes.
Overall, the story was interesting and enjoyable. While it was a bit slow to start (I found the first 20% of the book to be slow), once it got going, I found it hard to put down. It kept me up late into the night several times. There were many twists and turns, and I found myself on the edge of my seat on more than a few occasions. 4 solid stars.
January 20, 2017
Storytelling at it's best
I have a list of writers--now including Angela Hunt--who I deeply respect for their skill at their craft. I am not moved by what awards they might have, but by how they move me as a reader. I was won over by Ms. Hunt's book "Doesn't She Look Natural?" which led me here. This book? I set it down twice, thinking I did not like it, but inevitably picked it up again, finishing within the day I started it. Reading the last lines, I literally had chills run up then down my back. That never happens—well, too rarely to know the last time. And those times I put it down? This writer got through my calm reader shell: I felt what I was reading deeply enough to need some time to absorb it. I was moved by what these characters went through, how they struggled with it all, and how they came through it. It wasn't by being perfect.
This is storytelling at it's best and shows Ms. Hunt's skill at her craft. I look for character development, characters that are changed by the events of the story, unexpected events that I do not see coming, internal consistency, and thought provoking content. It's all here. I especially appreciate it when writers enrich their books with a strong multilayed story and avoid the erotica shortcut. The final 5-star criteria is this: I look forward to reading it again and I can recommend it to others. I will be thinking about this story for a long time.
Content: War is depicted realistically. It is not pretty. It is not overly graphic, simply matter of fact. War is not glorified. It could be a trigger for readers who have experienced war.
I have a list of writers--now including Angela Hunt--who I deeply respect for their skill at their craft. I am not moved by what awards they might have, but by how they move me as a reader. I was won over by Ms. Hunt's book "Doesn't She Look Natural?" which led me here. This book? I set it down twice, thinking I did not like it, but inevitably picked it up again, finishing within the day I started it. Reading the last lines, I literally had chills run up then down my back. That never happens—well, too rarely to know the last time. And those times I put it down? This writer got through my calm reader shell: I felt what I was reading deeply enough to need some time to absorb it. I was moved by what these characters went through, how they struggled with it all, and how they came through it. It wasn't by being perfect.
This is storytelling at it's best and shows Ms. Hunt's skill at her craft. I look for character development, characters that are changed by the events of the story, unexpected events that I do not see coming, internal consistency, and thought provoking content. It's all here. I especially appreciate it when writers enrich their books with a strong multilayed story and avoid the erotica shortcut. The final 5-star criteria is this: I look forward to reading it again and I can recommend it to others. I will be thinking about this story for a long time.
Content: War is depicted realistically. It is not pretty. It is not overly graphic, simply matter of fact. War is not glorified. It could be a trigger for readers who have experienced war.
March 25, 2014
This is a review of the 4th ed. release of the book.
I had read this story in junior high school after reading the second book in the series. While it didn't leave as much as an impact on me as The Troubadour's Quest had, I did love it enough to remember it until now. On a whim, I bought the series and decided to reread them to see if they were as good as junior high school me thought they were.
I was not disappointed.
Reading this story now as an adult, I can appreciate the historical accuracies of the book much more and exactly how much they suffered. I have seen it described by someone else as a "slow-burning romance" and that would be the way I wish to describe it as well, with love spanning years and trials that all of us could face -- frustratingly bad timing, pride, bitterness, and unexpected disasters and changes in the two character's life plans. I loved reading this again, and will continue to recommend it to any people interested in a classy work of historical fiction with a satisfying conclusion.
Plot aside, I have to say that I was not impressed with this edition of the book. It was rife with typos and blatent misprints, including a doubly printed paragraph on the second page and a chapter in the middle of the book named "0 CHAPTER NAME". I wish more care had been taken to proof this copy, which I bought unknowingly.
tl;dr - The story is an excellent historical fiction/clean romance which deals with contemporary relationship and life problems. Get an older edition for a cleaner reading experience.
I had read this story in junior high school after reading the second book in the series. While it didn't leave as much as an impact on me as The Troubadour's Quest had, I did love it enough to remember it until now. On a whim, I bought the series and decided to reread them to see if they were as good as junior high school me thought they were.
I was not disappointed.
Reading this story now as an adult, I can appreciate the historical accuracies of the book much more and exactly how much they suffered. I have seen it described by someone else as a "slow-burning romance" and that would be the way I wish to describe it as well, with love spanning years and trials that all of us could face -- frustratingly bad timing, pride, bitterness, and unexpected disasters and changes in the two character's life plans. I loved reading this again, and will continue to recommend it to any people interested in a classy work of historical fiction with a satisfying conclusion.
Plot aside, I have to say that I was not impressed with this edition of the book. It was rife with typos and blatent misprints, including a doubly printed paragraph on the second page and a chapter in the middle of the book named "0 CHAPTER NAME". I wish more care had been taken to proof this copy, which I bought unknowingly.
tl;dr - The story is an excellent historical fiction/clean romance which deals with contemporary relationship and life problems. Get an older edition for a cleaner reading experience.
April 11, 2015
A lot of people have a special book that they claim 'changed their life'. The only book to have changed my life thus far is God's Word. However, there are books that I have come across, few and far between, that have changed my perspective. This is, without a doubt, one of those books.
I read it in three days because I had to find out what would happen to the characters next. I didn't want to know what would happen to them next, but I had to know. Hunt doesn't leave anything out. The suffering and evil tendencies of human nature are laid out without any gushy cover-ups to make us feel good. This is not a feel good book. This is a book that tells it how it is. This is a book that tells the truth.
And it's eye opening, really. It makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you smirk, but most importantly... it makes you think. It makes you understand how good you've got it. And, yes, I know this is set in Medieval England, but there are so many parallels that you can't help but realize how much suffering there really is in the world. It makes you wonder what you can do to help those who suffer. It makes you realize that compared to so many people in the world, you haven't suffered yet on an unspeakable scale.
This book is one of the most dangerous books I've ever read. It's one of the worst, but one of the best. Nothing is left out. Your feelings will not be spared. The fragile world inside of you will not be spared. You will come out seeing something different.
And it's definitely worth it.
I read it in three days because I had to find out what would happen to the characters next. I didn't want to know what would happen to them next, but I had to know. Hunt doesn't leave anything out. The suffering and evil tendencies of human nature are laid out without any gushy cover-ups to make us feel good. This is not a feel good book. This is a book that tells it how it is. This is a book that tells the truth.
And it's eye opening, really. It makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you smirk, but most importantly... it makes you think. It makes you understand how good you've got it. And, yes, I know this is set in Medieval England, but there are so many parallels that you can't help but realize how much suffering there really is in the world. It makes you wonder what you can do to help those who suffer. It makes you realize that compared to so many people in the world, you haven't suffered yet on an unspeakable scale.
This book is one of the most dangerous books I've ever read. It's one of the worst, but one of the best. Nothing is left out. Your feelings will not be spared. The fragile world inside of you will not be spared. You will come out seeing something different.
And it's definitely worth it.
June 2, 2016
This book has a fabulous historic world...and a dreadful plot. I loved the detail into the medieval world, but spent the last half of the book wanting to smack the characters for being dumb. Their decisions could have been fleshed out much better, as could the two romance protagonists' relationship to each other. We know they love each other, but we don't really have any good idea why, since they seem to barely know each other.
If it's really a love that can endure literal decades of separation, the reader needs to understand why the characters pine for each other. The ending was, until the last ten pages, quite frankly ridiculous. The characters made nonsensical decisions, because we didn't get to see into their heads in any but the most superficial way.
But the world was so good that I was particularly disappointed in the lack of character depth. I wanted to love this book, but just couldn't.
If it's really a love that can endure literal decades of separation, the reader needs to understand why the characters pine for each other. The ending was, until the last ten pages, quite frankly ridiculous. The characters made nonsensical decisions, because we didn't get to see into their heads in any but the most superficial way.
But the world was so good that I was particularly disappointed in the lack of character depth. I wanted to love this book, but just couldn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2014
Overall, I loved the rich historical setting and Angela's obvious research to be faithful to the era.
Occasionally the plot felt forced or awkwardly advanced, like the section about Agnelet where the chapter opens, "The next two years passed smoothly at the convent." The rest of the paragraph doesn't actually support that statement well, and considering Hunt's generally lush writing style, phrases like these felt glaringly pedestrian.
Another reviewer expressed frustration with the last half of the book, wanting to slap the characters for being so stupid. It's true, the character development kind of unravels at the end and the denouement is a bit too sudden and predictable and doesn't leave me hanging enough to rush out and get the next book. A couple more thematic threads should have been left untied.
That said, I did enjoy this book as diversion and literary/historical journey.
Occasionally the plot felt forced or awkwardly advanced, like the section about Agnelet where the chapter opens, "The next two years passed smoothly at the convent." The rest of the paragraph doesn't actually support that statement well, and considering Hunt's generally lush writing style, phrases like these felt glaringly pedestrian.
Another reviewer expressed frustration with the last half of the book, wanting to slap the characters for being so stupid. It's true, the character development kind of unravels at the end and the denouement is a bit too sudden and predictable and doesn't leave me hanging enough to rush out and get the next book. A couple more thematic threads should have been left untied.
That said, I did enjoy this book as diversion and literary/historical journey.
February 22, 2013
I enjoyed this read. The year 1119 AD, and Afton is a villein born to the estate of Lord Perceval of Margate. She is beautiful (of course) and young Calhoun of Margate falls for her at the young age of 9 or 10. She is subsequently given to the Lord and Lady Percival as a companion for their daughter in replacement for a dead ewe owed to the Lord in tribute. The tale follows these star crossed lovers as he becomes a Knight and travels to the crusades. It's full of great descriptions and well researched history. The romantic interludes are tame with a lot left to the imagination. That's fine with me. This book was an offering through my Kindle Subscription.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews