The Knight and the Rose

I just loved this book and went looking for more novels by Isolde Martyn once I had finished it. There are very few historical romances set in this era. I loved the very clear picture given depicting the way of life during this time. Set against this interesting period are a range of diverse characters - particularly Gervase/Geraint who is all you could wish for in a desirable man (!), and, while Johanna is a complete wildcat without any appreciation for the efforts being made for her, I cut her character some slack for her behaviour in that any person who suffers extreme & continual physical & sexual abuse and neglect becomes irrational, bitter & suicidal (we still see it today), which is how Johanna is at the start of the novel, plus she is has to deal with being completely powerless as a woman in that era. I felt Johanna's tirades were part of her re-action to her circumstances and she does gradually change as she re-connects with her family, (and Geraint ... !) so by the end of the novel her character softens as her circumstances change. Additionally, the fact her mother, Johanna, Gervase/Geraint and the priest are undertaking a court proceeding to annul Johanna's marriage to the brut Sir Fulk by trying to prove a (non-existant) prior marriage between Johanna & Gervase/Geraint - requiring very confronting evidence given from Johanna in court, which would be a similar circumstance to a raped woman giving evidence in today's courts. The controversialness of Geraint's family ... and the twist at the end, give the story added spice. I really enjoyed the interweaving of the personal story of Johanna & Geraint (which is based on an actual case in this time) with the actual historical events of the time such as the deposing of Edward II and the battle of Bannockburn. There are many turns of events to keep your eyes glued to the page and the romance interwoven with the historical events of the time make a great book.

This is my first book by this author. I loved the dialogue, it was a little different - and bolder, I think than others. I thought Gervase/Geraint was a PERFECT hero. So handsome and intelligent, and strong and gentle. And since he was doing Johanna an enormous favor, one that would affect the rest of her life, if she was to have one, I don't understand why she complained and practically blamed Geraint for trying to help her! I could understand her revulsion to intimacy because of her evil husband, but she and Geraint smoothed through that just fine, so why was she so mean?

This is my first book by this author. I couldn't get enough of the great dialogue! I can't say enough about the great characters, either. Gervaint/Gervase was one of the best heros ever. I could read it again, it's that good.

As soon as I finished this novel, I immediately went looking for more by the same author. This was truly an historical romance. Inspired by a real Medieval divorce case, the story is about Johanna, so abused by her cruel husband that she is ready to face death to escape. Fate sends her home to her mother, who blackmails a "captured" rebel by forcing him to play Joanna's first husband in a conspiracy to release Joanna from her hideous marriage. Trapped in a situation not of his making, Geraint finds himself falling in love with the icy Joanna, longing to melt her reserve, heal her psychic wounds and become her protector. Unfortunately, his real obligations lie elsewhere, with powerful men, and their paths must part. I confess that the added attraction in this novel was the link with history, which is skillfully woven into the story. Joanna and Geraint are both embroiled with the politics of real British history, and the sights, sounds and smells of an age long gone fill the pages. As the story races to its climax, involving the documented capital punishment of several nobles, we fear for the safety and future of the two star-crossed lovers. Isolde Martyn writes well; the trite cliches and often repeated formulas of so many Romances are noticeably and happily absent. The characters of both the lovers and the other individuals who people the story are well developed - Ms. Martyn has made history come alive and created a pair of passionate, believable lovers and I am eager to discover more of her work.

I'm horrible at writing plot summaries, so I'll leave that to someone else. I'm a voracious reader and thus far this is the best medieval romance I've had the pleasure of reading. Nothing else comes close. The plot, romance, wit and wealth of characters are everything I could ask for. The nuances of daily life are so well woven into the story that if I didn't know better I would say the author actually lived in England during the 14th century. A keeper.