Review: 5 STARS FOR A CAPTIVATING BOOK
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 15, 2012
I had great expectations for this book and I wasn't disappointed in the least. This novel is set in medieval England and Normandy where two rival branches of the same tree fight for power. King Stephen is captured at the battle of Lincoln by  Robert of Gloucester. The rivalry for the throne will lead to years of discord and civil war in England, that have been called the Anarchy.It is in this atmosphere of chaos, constant danger, and uncertainty that this story takes place.One morning Alleyne de Bellac has a loving parent in her life, the morning after she finds herself all alone, her father having succumbed to his injuries after he was savagely attacked by some outlaws. Her fragile world collapses and suddenly she's nobody's daughter!Alleyne is an intelligent and spirited young woman but she is also very naive. Her lack of experience in the ways of the world makes her ill-equipped to make the right decisions. She is not familiar at all with intrigue, subterfuge, and scheming. she has no idea what greed and lust for power does to a man and that he won't hesitate to sell his soul to the devil. It's a man's world and she is like a lamb that goes to the slaughter.In the middle of that tragedy, two men are there to help her. Geoffrey de Mortagne, under-sheriff of Gloucester and his men rescued her father when he was brutally assailed. He is an honorable but determined man and he gave his oath to Alleyne's father and for him a promise given is a promise kept. He had to take care of the Lady.Then there is Will d'Arques, a man her father and herself have known a good part of their lives, a man she knows she can trust to help her, a man she likes very much ... but both men have their own private agenda which are poles apart.Because of her inexperience she will put her trust in the wrong man and find herself, more than once in a perilous situation. She will need all the courage she can muster and luck to get by, but she will also have some help.I'm not going to spoil the story by telling more here, you'll just have to pick up a copy to find out!There are a few betrayals and twist and turns still to come and things will get worse before they get better. Hardship will only make Alleyne a stronger and a wiser woman and so she will be better prepared for what is yet to come.I love Cathie Dunn's book for its captivating characters and vivid descriptions of these harsh and tumultuous times. I love it for its very well researched storyline and its crafty mix of fiction and history. The result is an engrossing read that I highly recommend. The hardest part now will be to wait for book 2 to be released! Five Stars !