Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.
Synopsis: This is the second instalment of the historical romance series The Montbryce Legacy, set in the Borderlands of England and Scotland during the 11th Century. Caedmon Woolgar, a warrior caught up in the struggles between the Normans to the South and the Scots in the North must decide where he loyalties lie and when he meets Agneta Kirkthwaite. As his feelings for her grow, he discovers that his knowledge of historical events aren't based on fact which serves to put both their futures in jeopardy.
I really wanted to like this book; it's set in a part of the world with which I am not only familiar but for which I have an affinity. It's a period that is little represented and a location that is rarely used in historical romances; therefore, is ripe for picking. The premise of the story intrigued me and appealed to my knowledge of the politics of the time, but it unfortunately fell short. Less so the story than the way it was told.
I often find that historical romances could be a little shorter, but in this case, I found myself wanting more. More conversation between the protagonist and his lover, his mother and his mates. I wanted more description, more tension, more humour, more, more, more...of just about everything. I found the conversations between the characters stilted and they tended to repeat precisely what was forewarned in the narrative. Then when I got to the scene where Caedmon goes 'fishing' I asked myself, "Why couldn't the rest of the book be like this one"? It had detail, flowing conversation, tension and feeling. It was the flow found in this scene that was lacking in the others. I also found that the best insight into the protagonist's mind was found is in his diary writing when fighting in the Crusades.
Knowing that the author is able to write this way made me wonder if the whole thing wasn't just a bit rushed. I really feel that more of what is found in those two elements would have taken the story to a completely different level.Clearly, the bones are there. The structure is pretty much there too, but the execution was a bit lacking for me. I think it could be a fairly brilliant novel if it was twice as long. More development of the characters and less stilted conversations with a better sense of location and the fundamental push and pull of relationships would do wonders for this story.
While I found Caedmon, his mother, Agneta and some of the characters believable even though we don't get a full picture, I could not say the same of Ram and his immediate family. I just don't see how they all basically accepted Earth-shattering news as if it were asking for the peas to be sent across the table. At one point one of the sons mentions that the situation had him upset, but again, we never ever saw it.
As noted above, I was intrigued by the premise of the larger story of the series, but I get the impression by reading the blurbs about the other books that what occurs in this novel will have little impact on future instalments.
Publisher: Anna MarklandPublication Date: 6 January 2012 Format: Paperback
Review previously appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog
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