Book Review
Nov. 12th, 2007 08:52 pmIn Pursuit of the Green Lion
by Judith Merkle Riley
Sometime in the 1990s I read Merkle Riley's A Vision of Light, which was about Margaret of Ashbury, a 14th century English woman of great intelligence, wit, and spirit. She also hears the Voice of God and has the ability to work miraculous healings. In Pursuit of the Green Lion is the sequel.
Margaret is now married to Gilbert de Vilers, member of the minor nobility who had been living as a cleric and scholar. His family turns out to be a very difficult bunch, of the arrogant and demanding sort. Gilbert becomes chronicler for the Duke of Lancaster and as such must accompany him on campaign in France. Gilbert is taken hostage and falls into the hands of a very evil, sadistic count. Margaret travels to rescue him, accompanied by her old friends Mother Hilde, a midwife, and Brother Malachi, an alchemist.
The story is very good, full of adventure and humor. However, it's really the character of Margaret that makes this book (and its predecessor) so enjoyable to read. Margaret hear God and can perform healing miracles (which cause her to glow during the process), but she is not some otherworldly saint. She is wholly down-to-earth and able to deal competently with the world.
by Judith Merkle Riley
Sometime in the 1990s I read Merkle Riley's A Vision of Light, which was about Margaret of Ashbury, a 14th century English woman of great intelligence, wit, and spirit. She also hears the Voice of God and has the ability to work miraculous healings. In Pursuit of the Green Lion is the sequel.
Margaret is now married to Gilbert de Vilers, member of the minor nobility who had been living as a cleric and scholar. His family turns out to be a very difficult bunch, of the arrogant and demanding sort. Gilbert becomes chronicler for the Duke of Lancaster and as such must accompany him on campaign in France. Gilbert is taken hostage and falls into the hands of a very evil, sadistic count. Margaret travels to rescue him, accompanied by her old friends Mother Hilde, a midwife, and Brother Malachi, an alchemist.
The story is very good, full of adventure and humor. However, it's really the character of Margaret that makes this book (and its predecessor) so enjoyable to read. Margaret hear God and can perform healing miracles (which cause her to glow during the process), but she is not some otherworldly saint. She is wholly down-to-earth and able to deal competently with the world.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-14 05:49 pm (UTC)I really liked her second husband (the father of her daughters), and I was surprised when that didn't turn out to be the happy ending, and after his death she fell hard for a monk. *fans self*
no subject
Date: 2007-11-14 08:27 pm (UTC)