The Dedicated Villian (The Golden Chronicles, Book 6) [Mass Market Paperback]

Patricia Veryan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this sixth and final volume of The Golden Chronicles series, Roland Fairleigh Mathieson, sometimes called Otton, the wily adventurer familiar to readers of the earlier books, undergoes a gratifying change, once his heart is captured by mischievous Miss Fiona Bradford. A political opportunist and reputed rake, Mathieson is searching for treasure reportedly stashed among disguised followers of the Jacobin cause. This is his reason for infiltrating the caravan of traveling players, where he meets would-be actress Fiona. As their affection flourishes, Mathieson becomes the protector of the little band. There is much for him to do, as he skillfully leads them around ambushes, narrowly escaping death himself. With customary panache, Veryan animates the background of Georgian England, creates a hero in the grand manner and spins a satisfying romance redolent of the period.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Veryan has heard our cries and now gives Roland Fairleigh Mathieson (sometimes call Otton) his own story. And an incredibly powerful, moving, and riveting one it is! The tale opens with Roly (as he is called here) lying injured in Flanders in 1743 (The War of the Austrian Succession), then jumps to England in November of 1746 after Culloden. Roly is after Bonnie Prince Charlie's treasure for himself. Certain Jacobites are also hunting for the treasure to return it to donors who are truly needy. Fiona Bradford's father is one of the Jacobite adventurers. She and Roly meet and fall in love. While the story has realism and brutality, the style and substance lift it far above the norm. Veryan has again proved that the genre can hold its own when compared to "mainstream" fiction. Excellent in all respects.
- Paula M. Zieselman, Debevoise & Plimpton, New York
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett Crest (January 29, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449218007
• ISBN-13: 978-0449218006
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #690,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dedicated Villain (Golden Chronicles) (Hardcover)

I've just recently "discovered" Patricia Veryan and have enjoyed most of her books. I was intrigued by "Otton" in one of her previos books and had to get my hands on this one, no easy feet since it was out of print. I was not dissapointed however.

This wasn't one of those horrible books where the hero and the heroine spend most of the time hating each other and then magicaly fall in love. Instead you "watch" while their friendship and affection grows into love. There are no overly dramatic scenes, and you've got to love the reluctant hero. It was a great book and going into my keeper pile.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best books ever!, May 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dedicated Villain (Golden Chronicles) (Hardcover)

I love Veryans books because they're always funny and touching without being sentimental.But this book is the best yet because the heroine won't let anything get in her way not even the hero. While the hero, being far from perfect, thinks that he was made to be a villian because of something that happened in his past. Which creates a wonderful story that somehow brings everything that Roly does into focus. If you have never read Veryan than you are missing out on a wonderful world where the only thing that holds true is you'll love everyone of her books! Besides of course that you hope she lives forever.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good End to a Good Series, May 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dedicated Villian (The Golden Chronicles, Book 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the sixth and final book of the Golden Chronicles series by Patricia Veryan. This one is all about Roland Fairleigh Mathieson, or Otton, whom we have all learned to love or hate in the first 5 books. Roly is a villian it would seem, and a rake, and a most handsome man, and he is a dedicated villian(the title of the book).
Here he finally comes up with the Jacobite treasure he has been hunting for since we met him in Practice to Decieve. But he also comes up with a Miss Fiona Bradford, who is helping those in charge of the treasure. Now the question is, will Roly choose the treasure he has worked so hard to get to, or will he choose this lady, the one that seems to have finally made him give his heart?
You'll have to read to find out. This is a very good book and it is nice to find out about Roly and the things he does. And for myself, after learning to think of Roly as a villian, it is interesting to find you really do like him at the end. But I must warn you that it is a frightful end. There is also the reappearance of Brooks Lambert and Robert MacTavish in this book. Rob is from Cherished Enemy(a good book as well, which you should read and probably will since it is the 5th book in the Chronicles).