The Mercy Seller: A Novel

Ever since finishing "The Illuminator", I have been waiting for this second novel by Ms. Vantrease to be published. She didn't disappoint me. The writer carries the story of Kathryn and Finn forward in time to 15th Century Prague. This was a time when Reformation ideas were taking hold all across Europe. She touches on the story of Jan Hus who attempted to spread Protestantism and died for his efforts. The clear thinking of the Czechoslovakian people has been shown many times during the centuries but we seldom hear of it. When the forces of evil move to stamp out these liberal ideas, Anna, the granddaughter of Kathryn and Finn, moves back to England. On her trip, we meet Gabriel, a priest who must be one of the most confused and conflicted characters in literature. However, it is all good. Ms. Vantrease also brings in Sir John Oldcastle, who was the model for Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff. We always think of Falstaff as a Tragicomic character and the life of Sir John Oldcastle will show that this was very true to life. One of the reasons I picked up the first book was the mention of Julian of Norwich and John Wycliff. Before there was Henry the VIII changing the Church in England, early Reformers such as Julian and Wycliff were laying down the foundation and wrote the books which made the conversion from the Roman Church to the Church of England so simple once Henry was shown how he could use the new theology to get his way. This conversion, in spite of the stops and starts caused by the minirebellions and the reign of Mary Tudor, opened new doors and brought about changes which, in large part, made the world we live in now and certainly helped the United States to develop as it did. Those who built the foundations and the people who followed them are all here demonstrating an era which we don't hear much about. One of the things I really like about Ms. Vantrease's books is her scholarship, and "The Mercy Seller" combines that scholarship and her ability to spin a fine story. Now I will be looking forward to her next book.

THE MERCY SELLER is not a direct sequel to the 2005 bestseller THE ILLUMINATOR. Although characters reappear here, THE MERCY SELLER serves as a great stand-alone novel that can --- and should --- be picked up immediately. Religious intolerance dominates 15th-century Europe in the opening of THE MERCY SELLER, where the story kicks off with the burning of religious texts. Finn, one of the main characters from THE ILLUMINATOR, is still doing his work with the help of his granddaughter, Anna. Finn is older and reveals his dying wish to Anna, who heads to England and seeks out Sir John Oldcastle. During a stop in France, Anna is met by a man named Van Cleve, a cloth merchant who buys the illegal texts from her. She falls in love with him, but soon the truth of his identity will come to the fore. Van Cleve is in fact Gabriel, a young priest who sells pardons and has been pressed into service by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is sent to France to begin the investigation of a heretical conspiracy against the Church. Gabriel, though, is beginning to find it difficult to uphold his vow to the Church as he and Anna grow closer and as the world becomes a firestorm around them. Love and treachery exist at every turn, but THE MERCY SELLER also holds a search for redemption, and these intertwined strands form the bones of a great body of work. Vantrease has crafted an intelligent and beautiful book. The historical elements of the novel are rich, strong and instantly compelling. The use of true-life historical individuals only makes the story more intriguing and, in some instances, even more tragic. Anna and Gabriel are incredibly true characters --- imperfect people who possess tremendous flaws and must struggle both personally and professionally in order to just stay alive. This is an extremely brutal and conspiratorial time, where you have no choice but to trust people and yet know that anyone could be a spy. Prague, France and England come alive on the page, and with Vantrease's writing you can almost feel the coolness of stone as you walk the castle corridors or make your way through the abbeys. Sir John Oldcastle is an incredible character, and as with all the other true-life representations, his actions within the story offer enough interest to perhaps make you want to do more research yourself and discover his effects on his time. THE MERCY SELLER is a feast for the soul and for the heart. Vantrease opens up and displays a great passion for the time period she is writing about, and that passion is infectious. Once you crack open the cover and begin to settle in, you are transported to 1410 and become a witness to history in the most fascinating way. --- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard

This follow-up to The Illuminator is that rarest of books: a compelling sequel that won't leave readers who missed the first novel behind. The story follows Anna, the grandchild of Finn (the Illuminator of Vantrease's wonderful debut novel), as she carries on his work, disseminating an English translation of the Bible - in circumstances as dangerous as those her grandfather faced. Set in Prague, and in France and England, with engaging characters (particularly Anna and Sir John!), a plot that rocks along, and historic detail that left me feeling I really knew what life was like back then, this one kept me reading late into the night!

The Illuminator is a hard act to follow, but Brenda Rickman Vantrease does it admirably with The Mercy Seller. I can't wait to see more from this talented author.

"The best historical fiction of 2007 and the most anticipated sequel of the year. Fans of The Illuminator will find The Mercy Seller enthralling and impossible to put down."