Customer Reviews

Gilliane (The Roselynde chronicles / Roberta Gellis)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this fourth book of the Roselynde Chronicles series, we follow the path of Adam, son of Alinor's first husband, Simon. We meet again our favorites, Alinor and Ian, Joanna and Geoffrey, and meet young Simon. The tale is riveting - a rousing history lesson/review of the turmoil in England at the time of King John's death - while allowing us to glimpse what most noble born women were forced to put up with, while giving us a dashing hero, Adam, and a wonderful heroine, Gilliane, who learns how women should be treated when she meets and marries into this fascinating family. There is intrigue, history, excitment, and diverse characters to please the most exacting palate. A great way to spend an evening or two.

From all of the books in The Roselynde Chronicles this is my favorite. Actually I read this book first, after that I went out and got the whole series. Adam comes from a loving, strong family, and is just what Gilliane needs in her life. This book is full of history, detail, and descriptions can not be surpassed. It is a book you just can't put down, I am sure that you will love it as much as I did.

I have two Robert Gellis' novels, Gilliane is the best, it evokes emotion. I had originally lent a copy of this novel to a friend, who then lost it, I thought it was such a good book, I had to track down another copy to put back on my shelves. A fabulous read.

King John is dead and his young son Henry rules England with William Marshal as regent, and Prince Louis of France is in cahoots with the rebellious English barons in an attempt to oust Henry and rule England for himself. Gilliane is the orphaned daughter of a minor knight and was raised in an abusive household. She is brought from France by her foster father to marry the disabled son of a rebellious baron so that he can control their lands for himself. Adam Lemagne, son of Alinor and her first husband Simon,takes control of Gilliane's lands, and of course sparks fly between the two.

While I enjoyed this tale, it is not quite up to the standards of Gellis' previous entries in the Roselynde Chronicles. As always, Gellis provides lots of historical detail on the period and political intrigues of the times, but the love story was a bit more of a bodice ripper than the three previous books, and I found some of the love scenes to be almost silly. While I understand the need for misunderstandings in the story to keep the lovers apart until the very end, the ones in this book were at times over the top (but these two were very young, Adam was only 18), and I found Gilliane to be quite irritating at times and found myself wanting to slap some sense into her. Thankfully, Adam eventually takes Gilliane to Roselynde and is taken under Alinor's wing where she quickly instills some common sense into Gilliane.

Those minor quibbles aside, this was an entertaining, fun read but just not up to the standards Gellis set with Roselynde and Alinor. Due to the minor irritations, three stars for the love story between Adam and Gilliane and four stars for Gellis' superb historical details. 3.5 stars. As a side note, the prices for this used book listed here on Amazon are a bit steep. I shopped around alternate used book sources and was able to purchase this for quite a bit less.