6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine Ending to a Fun Trilogy, June 8, 2007
This review is from: Knight's Prize (Mass Market Paperback)
When I was growing up, there were few if any fantasy books / romance books that had a strong-willed, sword-wielding female character. Even Arwen in Lord of the Rings was a minor afterthought. It was always men who stood up to injustice and took action - usually as the women cowered in the shadows, waiting to be rescued.
I am so thrilled that Sarah McKerrigan has written this trilogy of able-bodied, warrior-spirited women. These books mirror the mindset of movies like The Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean, where women can ably stand alongside men to do what is right.
It's important to read the other two stories first, so that you get the background of what is happening. A trio of sisters have been guarding their castle for many years. In the first two books, the eldest, and then the middle daughter found happy pairings with men worthy of their skills. The eldest was mature and rational. The middle woman was rash and headstrong. Both of them - and indeed the entire castle's inhabitants - routinely ignored and looked down on the youngest daughter, Miriel. She was the non-warrior, the bookish one who maintained the castle's ledgers.
But in reality, Miriel had her own skills. With the help of a Chinese servant, she had learned the ways of quiet combat. As "The Shadow", she made sure that her elderly father's gambling habits did not destroy the castle's finances. Her skills were not flashy sword moves like her two older sisters maintained, but the subtle skill of knife and hiding.
I greatly appreciate how each sister in this trilogy is very different from the others, while sharing common family values. Deirdre was straightforward and responsible. Helena savored act-before-thinking. Miriel has learned to take advantage of people overlooking her. She deflects and deceives to reach her goals. She runs straight into a man who is equally adept in this art - a mercenary named Rand who has been hired to track down The Shadow.
Sure, we all knew from the beginning that The Shadow was Miriel. Heck, we knew that in the first book. Many books relish in the slow reveal, and that's fine. There are the usual misconceptions, but in this case, both main characters actively lie at every turn, so it's far more believable here than in most stories.
I love oriental cultures and ran a feudal Japan group for many years, so I appreciated the many references to oriental weaponry and technique. I also like how the training extends into her morality and her way of looking at the world.
Yes, it requires a fairly large suspension of disbelief that somehow this young teen girl in medieval England has ended up with a master Chinese warrior as her 'servant' and has become a ninja in a few years - complete with extensive arsenal. Still, when you look at what happens in most romance books, there's always odd things happening that you have to roll with. We wouldn't want to read books where a milkmaid goes about her chores every day.
As with the second book, I have to say I really like the style - and I did relate much better to Miriel than to Helena. But I adore the first book (Lady Danger) so much, and the main character is so near to my heart, that I still easily choose that as one of my favorite romance books ever. Still, it is great to finish off the series and to learn more about the trio of siblings that make up this intriguing family.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Knight's Prize, January 18, 2008
This review is from: Knight's Prize (Mass Market Paperback)
Miriel, the youngest of three sisters, comes across as being biddable and unassuming and she likes it that way. While everyone thinks that she needs protection and sheltering, Miriel has been deceiving everyone, her family included. Trained in ancient martial arts by her maid, Miriel's life is anything but gentle. It seems that her alter ego has been lining the coffers of the poor at the expense of the rich and in turn, the wealthy are not pleased.
Rand is a mercenary soldier who has been hired by a noble to ferret out the criminal called "The Shadow" that had been preying on and stealing from the rich nobility. His guise? Suitor to Lady Miriel of Rivenloch. What starts out as a ruse, suddenly becomes more with just one simple kiss.
Knight's Prize is the third installment of Sarah McKerrigan's saga of three warrior sisters. Miriel is the epitome of womanhood, or so everyone believes. Rand, a deadly hired killer has an agenda all of his own. Coming across as a bumbling oaf, Rand's desire for Miriel is sensuous and just plain sexy. I stand in awe of Miriel and found her completely enchanting. Laughing out loud at their comedic antics, I couldn't get enough of this couple and hated when Knight's Prize ended.
Full of life, laughter, and oftentimes delightfully sensual love, Knight's Prize soothed my historical romance loving soul. I couldn't have asked for a better, more entertaining read.
Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
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3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific ending to a wonderful mediieval romance trilogy, March 11, 2007
This review is from: Knight's Prize (Mass Market Paperback)
In 1136 Miriel of Rivenloch is happy that her two older sisters, the Warrior Maids of Rivenloch have found men (see LADY DANGER and CAPTIVE HEART). With the addition of these strong males and their Knights of Cameliard, Rivenloch is defended apparently quite solidly. However, being the third Warrior Maid, though no one recognizes her as such since she is petit Miriel keeps a vigil as the outlawed Shadow.
However her teacher Sung Li tells her in his cryptic way that the night comes to swallow the shadow. Soon afterward the Lord of Morbrach hires mercenary knight Sir Rand la Nuit to capture the notorious Shadow. She notices him lurking in the nearby forest while he hears her quiet movement. When he arrives at the castle, as a cover he claims he came to court Miriel, whose name he keeps saying wrong. She wanting to learn what he is hiding so she kisses him saying they met at a tournament. The game of love and sleuthing has just begun.
The final Warrior Maids tale is a terrific ending to a wonderful mediieval romance trilogy as impressions prove false. The cast makes the story line. Sarah McKerrigan's appreciative fans will adore the hero who courts the third Maid. It is funny that unlike the audience he doesn't realizing she is also the criminal he hunts. Miriel is an interesting protagonist able to perform feats that most westerners cannot because of her teacher, the fascinating Sung Li. Fans will enjoy this Night's prize as he tries to capture the heart of the shadowy Warrior Maid.
Harriet Klausner
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