Beguiled [Hardcover]

Alice Borchardt (Author), Anne Rice (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

The conclusion of the story of Owen, Bishop of Chantalon, and his lady, Elin, opens with the pair once again marshalling their forces in a desperate struggle against the Viking raiders that threaten their community.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this chivalric sequel to her medieval saga Devoted, Borchardt returns to ninth-century France and the city of Chantalon, where the bishop, Owen, and his wife, Elin, confront Viking raids and treachery as they try to bring peace to their people. Hoping to fortify his meager troops, Owen, with the aid of the mysterious forest people, journeys to his father's stronghold to entreat his aid. Instead, he is captured by a hedonistic community of Bretons who offer him safety and peace for his people if he agrees to be their king?and death if he does not. As Owen undertakes this hero's journey, Elin is left to defend Chantalon against treason and a deceptive inciter sent by the Viking lord Hakon. Like her sister, Anne Rice (who contributes an introduction to this novel, as she did to Devoted), Borchardt delights in wordiness and overwrought prose, especially in her graphic depictions of sex (in language way over the purple top) and war (complete with disembowelings, beheadings, etc.). Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley and other purveyors of historic fantasy and adventure will enjoy the richly rendered historic detail with which Borchardt embellishes her baroque portrait of a turbulent, violent time. (Jan.)
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Borchardt is a far more profound author than her sister, Anne Rice. Instead of spinning superficial fantasy with bad poetry, Borchardt is a literary lion who is well grounded in reality. Yes, Beguiled, the sequel to Devoted (Audio Reviews, LJ 1/96), is a fabulous love story, but it's also a focused, carefully researched book that paints the human condition against a backdrop of Brittany in the melancholy ninth century and the waves of Viking invaders that, over a century, changed the face of Europe. While there are minute historical flaws, so profound is Borchardt's understanding of the era's psychology and the transition from Druid magic to Christian miracles that few will notice. The recording takes us into Viking war councils and presents such details of daily life as the everyday diet, justice, medicine, entertainment, and vices of a demoralized society that, thanks in part to the new religion, is finally getting its act together. Beguiled is full of war, treachery, and the lustful passions of a youthful society. Michael Page dramatizes the work like a master. Until you have heard him roar, you have never heard rage on tape. This saga will keep listeners in thrall; highly recommended.?James Dudley, Copiague,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525942726
• ISBN-13: 978-0525942726
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,627,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best thing to hit historical romance since sliced bread, September 1, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beguiled (Hardcover)

Alice Borchardt once again proves that she's the one who received all of the writing talent in the family, not her sister Anne Rice. With this second novel she has her faithful fans once again wrapped up in the world of medieval France, barely out of the dark ages. Her feminist herione Elin must this time face the possible loss of her improbably lusty bishop husband, this time to another woman. Anyone who likes their historical novels loaded with tons of sex and battle scenes, as well as betrayals, witchcraft, and the like, will love this book. And if you don't, you need to read it again.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breath taking, July 19, 2000

By 

MamaWolf (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beguiled (Paperback)

I simply loved this book. The secondary characters make this book great. The only flaw is I wish there could have been more of these characters. And much more of Rosamund. Try to find the book anyway you can.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of suspense, conflict, victory,and love., March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beguiled (Paperback)

I just loved this book,it so romantic how owen and elin are so much in love,that in the book owen refused to take Gynneth when she lied almost naked on her bed,and told Elutides that he could not take her because he had a wife,and that she pleases him well. Also how owen says to himself of how much he misses,and loves elin. I turly hope that you countiue this tale of the two lovers,because I just think this book is so great! I read it over and over agin,I couldnt put it down. You turly are a great storyteller.