Customer Reviews

The Angel Knight

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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To all you who like a good medieval story or one with a Scottish setting Susan King's THE ANGEL KNIGHT is wonderful. The setting is 1306 Scotland where the heroine Christian has just burned her lowland castle in support of Robert Bruce. As she escapes she is captured by King Edward's men and is imprisioned in a cage hanging from a castle in the borders. She is found by the hero Gavin Faulkener at near death. He has returned to England having been exiled 10 years before for treasonous talk about the way the English sacked Berwick so although he is an English Knight of the realm he has very little loyalty to Edward. He has been given Christian's castle and is expected to restore it as well as look for the legendary gold that lies buried in the castle. He removes Christian from her cage with very little authority as he believes she will die and marries her quickly as means of solidifying his right to the castle. She doesn't die and as he restores the castle loves grows between the two. There are, as usual, wonderful developed secondary characters and an element of mystical Celtic lore. A strong point of Ms King's work is that she knows her history and blends it so nicely with her romance novels but the history doesn't take over the story. I would highly reccommend this one as well as all of her books for a most satisfying historical read; she easily is at the top of historical romance rung with books that are well thought out and historically accurate to boot. No one does a Scottish setting better than Susan King

Here's the scoope. The time is 1307 and Lady Christian has been imprisoned in a cage and left to die. Sir Gavin arrives and ultimately removes her from her prison and marries her, believing she is will die from her sickness (this was the kings demand of Sir Gavin to spare her life). However, she lives and soon realizes she is married to an Englishman (she is Scottish). The next half of the book shows her coming to deal with her new "English" husband. Her hatred of him dwindles away because, I have to admit, he is such a sweetie. He treats her the way we would all wish to be treated (with love and respect). However, she still has strong ties to her family and she does make a very bad choice, causing hurt to the man she now loves. There is also excitement in the book while the reader tries to figure out if the myth of treasure in the castle actually exist and where it could be hidden. I'm rather partial to this book since the hero reminds me of my husband (when I told him this he blushed, smiled and grunted, then walked away. I guess the grunting is some secret male language). Susan King is an excellent writer who is able to pull at your heart strings and make you wish you were back in that time.

This is the first novel I've read by Susan King. It does not sport quite as many of the gratuitous sex scenes of other romance writers, a welcome relief. The heroine, Christian, has spirit but is not overbearing or annoyingly cloying. There is a nice connection to the legend of King Arthur. If you like historical fiction, you'll like this one. All of the characters are appealing--even the villan--who of course, get what's coming to him in the end. Well written and enjoyable.

Okay, I love books about knights and chivalry. So, after searching through Amazon dot com, I found the book called, "The Angel Knight" and ordered it believing it to be a "regular novel". When I received it in the mail, I found it to be a "romance novel" indstead. I thought to myself, "Gee, guys don't read Romance novels, do they?"

After setting it asside while I get my other novel read, I returned to "The Angel Knight" and decided to give it a chance. (Er, well, since I am a budding writer, I think I will learn from Mrs. King's style about how romance is done.) Almost a couple of chapters in, I was moved at how strong and noble Lady Cristian was and how the author had worked in St. Michael the Archangel into the story. (She named her child after him.) Sir Gavin also is a noble character - everything a good guy should be. Although I admit, I have not fully read the entire book as I am writing this review, I have to say that I like everything about it so far.

Now, I'm not sure if Mrs King routinely checks up on the customers reviews on here, I would just like her to know that I like her work and will look forward to purchasing books written about Lady Christian and her family. (As I have found the apparent sequel to this novel, "Lady Miracle", continuing Lady Christian's daughters adventures right before deciding to write a review) Thank you, Mrs. King.

Hm... this would make for a wonderful summer blockbuster movie. I could help on the screenplay! *chuckles*

Susan King takes an impossible situation and makes it possible without falling back on coincidences or contrivences. Angel Knight gets into the heart of the Scottish/British conflict with lazer-sharp precision while telling an entertaining and compelling story. Kudos, Susan!!!

Gavin Faulkener isn't like most Englishmen in 14th c. Scotland: He has some morals. Christian MacGillean, a relative of the outlawed Scots king, Robert Bruce, is wholly like most Scots: She despises the English. Faulkener weds the lady, to save her from a slow, horrid death; is awarded her property; and is stuck between doing the bidding of his king and doing what is right by his new wife. He chooses wisely, but the choice isn't quite as simple as it seems.

This is a lovely novel by Susan King, and a thoroughly enjoyable one. The hero, Faulkener, is compassionate, intelligent, shrewd and simply charming. Lady Christian couldn't hold out against him, and neither could I!

I found the pages weighted down with grief. Nothing broke the depressing spell these characters were under. I could not shake the feeling of hopelessness for this couple. They didn't do anything to inspire me. I stopped caring about what might happen to them and just wanted to find what happens next, if anything. Will she be captured again and held prisoner? Raped? Killed? humm. I wonder ... <nothing happening> Gavin might have to fight for her release if she were caught again; he could be killed!?. <still nothing happening> Maybe a battle will break out and everyone will die ... Would something just HAPPEN already!

Gavin was simply the 'nicest' hero I've ever come across in a romance novel. There was scant intimacy between the two. I found myself dreaming that a stronger character would just sweep into this ruined castle, drag Christian off by her short crop of hair, and um, well you know.

Susan King, without a doubt, does Scottish Historicals as very few ever do. Most of the time, I have to grit my teeth to get past the anachronism, Yankisms and general lack of really knowing Scotland, in order to read a Scottish Historical romance. Two of the best writers of this genre of Sue-Ellen Welfonder and Susan King. Few touch their level of understanding of the history, the people of Scotland. This is one of King's best, without doubt.

Angel Knight, originally seemed a rather silly title to me, but it soon became apparent it's perfect for this tale. Drawing on the real history of when Edward I captured and made prison of Robert the Bruce's wife, sister, daughter and Countess of Buchan (the woman who crowned Bruce King). The English king committed the unbelievably cruel act (even by his standards!) of fashioning wooden cages for Christina Bruce and the Countess of Buchan, and hanging the cages from the walls of Berwick. Twelve-year-old Marjorie Bruce had one on the Tower of London. They were left out in public site, to live, through the harsh elements. Susan King draws on this atrocity and creates another Christina. She is the Lady of Castle where a fortune in gold has been hidden. She burns the castle in defiance of the English and tries to escape. She is captured and meets the same fate of being imprisoned in a cage from the rampart of her own castle.

Gavin Faulkener is an English knight. But he's on Edward's bad side for voicing complaint against the English violence in the Sack of Berwick. He has been put in charge of the half burnt out castle, as punishment and told to repair it - and find the gold. He is horrified when he finds Christina near death. He removes her from the cage, marries her to give her protection, believing she will die. She recovers, and though is thrilled to no longer be held in a cage, she's upset at having an English knight as husband.

It's a beautiful story told with love, romance, and adventure, yet with the true spirit of Scotland and a love for its history. It just doesn't get any better than this.