Mia’s comment > Likes and Comments

I will agree that her vocalness on opinions for the time period was the most unrealistic part of the book, but I was surprised by some of your other comments. An easy life? What was so easy? The unpleasant childhood, dramatically dangerous escape, being picked on and not taken seriously at school, almost being killed by Vikings and that's before all the conflicts as she moved through the priesthood.

I understand finding the romance with Gerold gross, but that's based on modern standards. Back then people married much younger with the man often being older. Plus I found this gross out factor improved by them not getting together romantically until years later when the age difference wasn't as big a deal.
There had to be a romance of some kind to match one of the few known "facts" from the historical records, so I thought this was a fine way to do it. Much more realistic than hiding a steamy sexual romance for years, while living as a man.

I thought the weakest part of the book was the convenient timing of her fathers death. Could have done without him reentering the story at all.

By "too easy" I wasn't referring to her life, but to how conflicts were resolved. A problem would arise and then - BAM - a solution would fall into her lap in the nick of time (i.e. father's going to expose her, oh look, he drops dead, she's safe for now), and then all of her continous lucky coincidences (i.e. Arn just happening to be the one that discovers her the boat after fleeing). Conflicts were resolved way to easily for me. I don't like characters I read about to just be handed solutions.

I don't mind reading May-December relationships, but Gerold was creepy. He didn't just know little Joan in passing, she actually lived with him. She even slept in the same bed as his daughter, who was a similar age. I don't know how thise could've been reworked to not be creepy, but this basically disturbed me, and I didn't find it romantic in the least.

Overall the book was an entertaing one time read for me. I don't regret reading it, I was just disappointd that it wasn't better.

I agree with you, Mia! So many coincidence made the book feel contrived. I thought they provided an easy way out for the author. And yet I did enjoy Joan's character, her intelligence and determination. What I wonder is, why is a book's protagonist always more intelligent than anyone else? Is it because writers know we like to read about smart, strong, capable people, or do our protagonists always seem smarter, etc. because we are in their heads in a unique way?