The Rain Maiden

A thousand kudos to Jill Phillips. She did an outstanding job of letting a romance novel reader know that there really is good historical fiction out there. She has inspired me to delve deeper into the romance of the era. This book contains no happy ending, but Ms. Phillips took away all the fluff and sweet sex of usual romance novels and replaced it with the reality of life in medievil times. I always thought it would be cool to live in those times, have my knight in shining armor there to save me from the despicable people portrayed in this book. True to the times, everyone used each other, to their fullest ability. How frightening to be a young child in those times. Isabel, who I plan on researching her for factual information, was a classic victim, and I am sure all women were in those times. Chattel. I wish more authors were as conscientious about writing of history, the true lives, making every effort to be as accurate as history allows. This book is for anyone who needs a lift. Despite its depressing contents, you close the book with a sigh, thankful for all you have in this life.

I found myself haunted by this book for weeks after and I had to find out if it were true. All I could find was that Isabelle of Hainault was married to King Philippe when she was 10, gave birth to his heir at 16 and died before she was 20. This is tragic by any standards but the way the book depicts her is even more tragic. She was used by so many men - her father and uncle mostly who (if the book is accurate) were sick. But the book does not depict them that way - incest is seen as common in those days. It is hard to understand her having so many relationships as she was so young. To start at 10, have over 10 pregnancies and then die in childbirth is unbelievably sad. She was a queen but in reality nothing but a victim. Lets hope this book really is purely fictional and the real Isabelle had a much happier life.

Five stars, only because I can't give it ten. This is the best book I've ever read. Although there is a lot of detailed sex, etc., It is still a great book. I had to force myself to put it down. It's long, but well worth it. A very good look at the lifestyles of royals in medival times & the lives of many medival women. Excellent historical detail.

A passionate and sad story. If it's true it's absolutely tragic that a woman (child really) had to live such a life. Read it and be disturbed. Thank God children today can be children. It's shocking to think how they were used centuries ago.