Sybelle (The Roselynde Chronicles, Book 6)

The sixth volume of the original Roselynde Chronicles (the recent Harlequin reprint added a seventh volume, Desiree, set between the first and second) takes place around 1230 as King Henry III, the son of John Plantagenet, is embroiled in the first of his many wars against barons determined to have more say in the running of the kingdom. The family at Roselynde, which has extensive holdings in Wales and South England, find themselves placed in an awkward situation, for Ian, Lady Alinor's second husband, is a kinsman of the King and a castellan of several of his properties, but Geoffrey, husband of Ian's stepdaughter Joanna, is the half-brother of Richard, Earl of Pembroke, who is the foremost of the rebels. And Joanna, now 16 and very marriageable, has attracted the attention of Walter deClare, who is a trusted friend of Pembroke's, though he's managed so far not to be tarred with Pembroke's brush. The book tells the story of their courtship, growing love, and marriage, and the early trials that almost destroy it--the war itself, and Walter's impulsive one-night stand with Pembroke's sister-in-law Marie (who allies with Sir Heribert, Walter's untrustworthy castellan, to plot revenge). Though not a quick read, the novel is, like all of Gellis's historicals, as much concerned with the politics and social attitudes of its time as it is with romance. Gellis understands the psychology of both male and female and clarifies the most complex motivations, although many teachers of writing would cringe at her tendency to "tell, not show." Her characters often work at cross-purposes to each other without realizing it, and suspense is maintained till almost the very last page, as newlywed Joanna, who at first fears that there is more between Walter and Marie than exists, suddenly realizes that he is faithful and follows him to his unwilling rendezvous with Marie, just in time for her escort to foil Heribert's attempt to kill him. In between there's a joust, an ambush on the road, two battles, and a quick raid on a manor belonging to one of the King's advisors. Sybelle, like all the Roselynde women, is a very modern sort of female with whom readers can easily identify. The book might benefit by a cast list showing the ages, titles, and relationships of the characters, but after a while you begin to get used to which one is which. Even the sex scenes aren't terribly graphic, though certainly a bit steamy. If you enjoy historical fiction set in "days of old when knights were bold," and aren't too fond of "mushy love scenes," this may be a series tailor-made for you.

I picked up this book at a library book sale more for the red-head on the cover than any other reason. Imagine my suprise when this wonderful book turned out to be the last in a series of six detailed portraits of strong women and the men who love them. On paper, 16-year old Sybelle is a ripe prize; heir to all the wealth of Roselynde, she is also blessed with beauty to drive men wild. Unfortunately for Walter, her beauty and wealth are matched by her brains and determination; she, not her husband, will rule her lands. Raised by two generations of strong women to protect what is hers, Sybelle is torn between her feelings for Walter and her fear that he cannot accept all that she is. Their tumultuous love story plays out against a backdrop of war and intrigue in King John's England, and the rich historical details provided by Gellis are what truly make the story. I finished Sybelle in one sitting, and immediately started scouring the internet for copies of the preceding five books. Start with Roselynde if you can, but know that any of these books can stand alone as a tribute to Gellis' skill and passion for her subject.

For Gellis fans, this is familiar attention to detail and a story line that has some unexpected twists and turns. We are reintroduced to Sybelle, Geoffrey and Joanna's daughter, Alinor's granddaughter, who is to be the heir to Roselynde. The family is shopping for a husband and helpmate for her and has in mind a friend of Simon's. Walter is enchanted with Sybelle but unsure of the requirement that he be tolerate women with power in their own right and expectations of being treated as vocal equals...and the requirement to be a faithful husband. He is shown to grow and overcome his more prosaic notions and Sybelle also becomes a more tolerant and wiser character as she matures quickly in the face of adversity and civil war. Political intrigues abound as does the trechery of another women who wants Walter. A good read with complexities.

I judge a book by the number of times I re-read it -- and I think I must have read each book in the Roselynde Chronicles about a hundred times. Every time that I think I've choosen my favorite of all the books, I pause and think, "But what about that scene in "Alinor," or "Joanna," or "Gilliane?" This series is an incredibly accurate historical overview of the period from the reign of Richard the Lion-heart through the beginning of the reign of Henry III. At the same time, it presents a rousing good story, with engaging characters and a great plot.In this book, Sybelle is the daughter of Joanna and Geoffrey, and the granddaughter of Alinor of Roselynde. Sybelle is 16, and her parents and grandparents are urging her to choose a husband. This is no light decision - Sybelle will someday become the Lady of Roselynde, and her husband will have the responsibility of protecting and governing the lands with her.The plot develops not only the very personal story of Sybelle's courtship and marriage, but also presents us with the grand sweep of English history - across Wales and western England, from Llewellyn, the Prince of Gwynned (Wales), to a rebellious Richard, earl of Pembroke, to the young Henry III of England - and presents it all from both a personal and a political viewpoint.I cannot say that I enjoyed this book more than the other 5 books in the Roselynde Chronicles. But I will say that I have enjoyed it and the other books with frequent re-readings over the past 20 or more years, and that I will continue to enjoy it with frequent re-readings in the future.

I didn't think that this book lived up to all the other chronicles, but with a writer like Roberta still makes a good read.