3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant romance!, February 20, 2002
By A Customer
I read all the posted reviews of Destiny's Daughter and was interested enough by them (even the negative ones made it sound very intriguing!) to actually read the book itself. Am I ever glad I did! Destiny's Daughter is a truly brilliant, well-written romance that kept me glued to the pages all the way through! The book follows a single story - a search for the missing Knights Templar treasure (not the Holy Grail, as somebody else posted) - in both contemporary and historical times. Its heroine and hero, Bryony and Hamish, attempt to find the treasure in today's time, while at the same time trying to keep from being killed by a secret group (like the Freemasons or Rosicrucians) of chilling conspirators, who have been manipulating world events for centuries and want the treasure for themselves. Far from wandering around aimlessly, Bryony and Hamish follow a set of clues left behind by Bryony's murdered father, along with other clues they gradually uncover and deduce on their own as they travel from place to place, not at first knowing what it is they are looking for, so investigating whatever they think might be of help to them as the plot unfolds. Their idea to expose the conspirators on the Internet is excellent, not stupid, since the group's entire existence and operations are based on secrecy and keeping themselves unknown to the world at large. Once exposed, they have no longer have any reason to kill Bryony and Hamish. Bryony and Hamish's dialog *is* intelligent but realistic - yes, real people who are interested in all the controversial ideas proposed in this book really do talk exactly this way - and, as someone else posted, Bryony and Hamish do feed off each other in a way that is witty and a lot of fun. The book draws on a number of ideas, everything from mythology to angels and extraterrestrials, and cleverly, through past and present, weaves all these different threads into a speculative but fascinating tapestry. I couldn't put this book down and stayed up all night long to finish reading it! I too gave a thumbs-up for the ending, which tied all the loose ends up beautifully and successfully. I heard the music - and it was both sad and inspiring. How very refreshing to read such an intelligent, suspenseful, and genuinely thoughtful, well-researched and presented romance. If you want something entirely out-of-the-ordinary, ambitious, and outstanding, Destiny's Daughter is a must-read! Thank you, Ms. Brandewyne, for this marvelous book!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard going, December 11, 2001
By A Customer
This book was difficult to read and falls far short of her previous works. Although I am familiar with all of the historical references and the speculative ones as well I was falling asleep while trying to get through (and keep track of) all of the extraneous information. The plot was really thin and weak. I respect Ms Brandewyne as a writer and have read almost all of her books but this one is a real disappointment. I was tempted to quit reading it several times but refused to admit defeat!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
great book, July 11, 2002
By A Customer
I thought this was a wonderful book. The plot is interesting and quick paced (sometimes I was overwhelmed by the rapid evolution of the characters' thoughts). Although the romance part was practically nonexistent, the concept behind the book was enough to keep me reading. I was blown away--really. I just finished reading the book and can't get over it. The last few sentences really inspired me. I applaud Ms Brandewyne for taking a tricky concept and doing all the necessary research in order to make it work. I am in complete awe.
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