Lady Seer (The Lady Series) [Paperback]

Evangelynn Stratton (Author), StormKatt Productions (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lady Trilogy | Publication Date: January 16, 2001

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Evangelynn Stratton has had a varied career as a professional songwriter/musician and recording artist. Writing, however, has always been her passion. Her recent endeavor into the historical genre is something for which she felt destined. Evi has a business degree and lives in Washington State. Visit her web site http://travel.to/Knightimes

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (January 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059514859X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595148592
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,740,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lady, take some writing lessons!, April 28, 2006

By 

M. A. Bechaz "bookaholic" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady Seer (The Lady Series) (Paperback)

I almost hate myself for writing this review, not only because I liked the first book in the series, 'Lady Knight', so much, but also because Evangelynn Stratton seems like a genuinely nice person who set out to write this book with very good intentions. But I just can't help myself -- I have to express my dislike for this book. Having read two other of Ms Stratton's books before this, I am of course familiar with the fact that her writing is often grammatically flawed and full of typos, to the point where I wonder if she actually passed English in high school. Up until now, I've mostly overlooked this fact because I quite enjoyed the storylines of her other books. But in this one, the story just wasn't interesting or plausible enough to make me forget its faults.

Ms Stratton, I must say to you, in the nicest possible way, please do a remedial English course, and buy yourself a dictionary! Oh, and if you're going to write historicals, try to have at least a basic grasp of history! Otherwise, write fantasy books instead, which don't require you to know any history. And don't rely solely on spellcheck to edit your work -- get a REAL editor, one who can fix your mistakes...although that would be a huge job!

Do I sound too picky? Perhaps if I show some examples of what I mean, everyone will understand why I'm so annoyed...

These are actual quotes from the book: 'Never in his widest dreams', "What do you purpose to do?", 'Joseph's objections was buried under the din', "It seems all assertions against this man is all hearsay.", 'It was going extremely sour for Giles', 'It loped Elanna hard on the forehead' (that quote was a description of a thrown rock -- rocks are lobbed, not loped! Rocks cannot run!), 'To make positive she couldn't escape', 'He needn't bothered', 'Matthew was by her side, fighting as relentless as she was.', "You surprise, me Patrick.", 'vise versa', 'Luke leaned into Elanna's ear.' There are many more problems like these. I could fill up pages with them, but why bother...this book has already done that!

Ms Stratton also often uses the wrong word or wording for what she means, sometimes with unintentionally comical effect. Here are a few examples...she writes 'demanding figure' instead of 'commanding figure', 'distressing villagers' instead of 'distressed villagers', 'causally' instead of 'casually', 'posh' instead of 'bosh', 'excitingly' instead of 'excitedly', 'pummel' instead of 'pommel', 'dominate' instead of 'dominant', and so on. She often puts words in the wrong tense, confuses plural with singular, and incorrectly uses shortened versions of words, ie. real instead of really, as in the example 'You're real strong', or quiet instead of quieten, as in 'Things would quiet down'.

Honestly, it's so bad, sometimes she makes George Dubya Bush seem eloquent and well-spoken by comparison!

And then there's the historical flaws. She has Pet using a rapier sword...rapier swords weren't really in usage in 1500, least of all in that part of Europe. Rapiers only came into prominence later in the century, and even then usually only as a duelling sword, not out in the field. Also, potatoes are mentioned, even though they didn't hit Europe until around 1570. And then there's beef jerky...the first written account of beef jerky being eaten by anyone from Europe was in 1612, and even then it was called jerkin beef. Sorry to sound picky, but this is the kind of background stuff that you have to know to competently write a historical novel.

And while we're on the historical side of things, none of the characters sound or behave as medieval people might. Their dialogue is jarringly modern and American, for example. "Whoa, young lady.", "Boy, I sure messed that up.", "I guess so.", "I could use a break.", "I don't wanta feed no prisoner," "I figured as much,", and "I know nothing! Honest!".

Technical flaws aside, there's also problems with the actual storyline of the book. The characters aren't very well developed. Luke is supposed to be one of the central characters, but he doesn't really do much of interest at all. Elanna is a witch, and even though she thinks that being a witch is sinful, and fears that she will be burnt at the stake as a heretic, for some reason she goes around telling absolutely everyone about her magical powers. Who, in fear of their life, would do that? How stupid is she? Surprise, surprise -- she ends up being put on trial as a witch. The worst character in the book, though, is Giles. He was so 2 dimensional! Actually, he reminded me of a comic book villain, so much so that I was waiting for him to say "Curses! Foiled again!" followed by one of those mwa-ha-ha evil laughs. He never did say that, although he did spout EVERY other overused cliche ever used by an evil guy. And in true comic book villain style, he did outline his evil plans at every opportunity, always within earshot of someone else, even though the plans were supposed to be secret.

The fight scenes in the book were copied from B-grade Hollywood movies...nothing original there. The wedding scene was copied from 'Lady Knight'. The witch trial seemed to be copied from 'Blackadder' more than it was from any real historical trial (I was almost waiting for the Witchsmeller Pursuivant to turn up!)...although Blackadder did it MUCH better.

There was one original thing, though...a religious agenda. Wouldn't you know it, the bad guy was an atheist. But the nuns, the priest and even the abbot and monks at the witch trial (who had previously put MANY innocent women to death) seemed portrayed in a positive light, and were either outrightly good or at least capable of redemption. And in one of her future visions, Elanna sees a world where everyone believes in God and there is complete peace and happiness. If you're an atheist, or a Wiccan, or a non-Christian, you might be a little annoyed by this. Although, if you're a fan of good, interesting, well executed writing, you're going to be way more than a just a little annoyed by the whole damned book! Why did every other reviewer give this book 5 stars? I don't know. Maybe they all lost their minds when they got loped on the head with a rock!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!!!, March 8, 2003

By 

"magixchild" (Rising Sun, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady Seer (The Lady Series) (Paperback)

This second book in the lady series has a wonderful supernatural twist. 18 year old Elanna Dayen has certain "seeing" powers wich enables her to read peoples minds and sense when somone is coming or somone nearby in is trouble.
Ofcouse somone with special powers has somone evil after her.Her uncle wants her estate for his own and has already killed Elanna's family to try and get it. Elanna run away straight into the arms of Luke Cameron. He promises he will keep her safe and therefor falls in love with her.I better shut up before I totally give the story away! I have only one request READ THIS Its as good (if not better) then the first!
Believe me ,this definately is a book worth reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second book surpasses the first, January 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady Seer (The Lady Series) (Paperback)

This is the second book in the popular "Lady" series by Evangelynn Stratton, and I loved it. Please do not confuse this writer as a children's writer-she is not. Her books are romances, and are not suitable for children. Because of another book by the same name, Amazon is lumping the Lady series with children's books. The Lady series is fantastic. I highly recommend all three books, and also "Rhiannon" by the same author.