AMAZON US $3.99 / $13.50
AMAZON CA $ 4.96 / $17.43
This title was shortlisted for the February Book of the Month
13th Century
13th Century
England
The French woman is dying during childbirth. She is mistress
to an English nobleman. Ursula the local Shropshire midwife is also due to give
birth, but attends the hapless mother. One of their babies lives, the other
does not.
Skip forward quite a few years: Illesa, Ursula’s daughter, is
finding it hard to keep the small family farm going and her elder brother is
in trouble again. She must trust to her wits and a book, Saint Margaret, that her
mother gave her. Then she finds herself in the company of a man who is kindred
to the King’s Chancellor, and who is to organise a celebration for Edward I’s
victory over the Welsh, a task he struggles to ensure goes well (anyone who has
organised such an important event can wholeheartedly sympathise with him!) Twists and unexpected turns follow, keeping the reader guessing as page after
page is swiftly turned.
Running through the plot is the fortune (or misfortune) of
St Margaret who was martyred in the 4th century, and a 6th century Welsh
tale – both of which are skilfully woven into the narrative, and do have a
reason to be there, but to say why here could be a spoiler so I am saying
nothing more.
The research for this novel appears to be meticulous, and it
was a delight to encounter something different to the norm in the form of an
obscure actual incident, which so added to the pleasure of this wonderful
story. Kate Innes writing holds the reader throughout – a delightful read, very
highly recommended and most definitely a Discovered Diamond!
©Helen Hollick
Note: this novel may appear to be incorrectly justified as an e-book on some devices
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I missed this when it was originally reviewed. I've been going back over the posts and this definitely looks like another for my tbr mountain.
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