The Legacy [Paperback]

Ellen Ekstrom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2004

Francesco is a knight in not-so-shining armor; he makes mistakes and pays for them dearly. In his ideal existence, he would rather make love than war, but he is the Count of Romena and his legacy is contested.

In fourteenth century Italy, politics are deadly. Francesco and his noble peers are losing power; their world is disintegrating, and with it, Francesco's legacy. To retain it, he will fight anyone; his family, the church, and even himself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ellen Ekström lives in Berkeley, California with her husband and children. In addition to her writing, she is a deacon in the Episcopal Church. She is a medieval history enthusiast who prides herself on the care she takes with research and detail for her fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Trivium Publishing (December 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972209123
• ISBN-13: 978-0972209120
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,011,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ellen L. Ekstrӧm has been intrigued by all things medieval since seeing Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" as a five-year old--when it was first run in theaters. Now that she is in her own middle ages, the passion for the Middle Ages hasn't abated, as she returns time and again to medieval history and themes in her novels, with an occasional foray into matters of the heart and soul where it concerns the modern woman. Rev. Ekstrom was ordained to the order of vocational deacons in the Episcopal Church in December of 2002, serves the San Francisco Bay Area in the Diocese of California. To support her family and frenetic lifestyle, she works as a legal secretary. Once in a while, she sleeps.

Rev. Ekstrom has a growing list of published works. Her debut novel "The Legacy," an historical novel set in 14th century Tuscany garnered praise in its first release. Said Thomas Scott of The Copperfield Review, "...I felt I was swept into the world of medieval Tuscany. The sights, the sounds, the panorama of personalities, all had an immediately natural and engaging feel. Ekstrom has developed a narrative that is full of period detail as if medieval Tuscany is being painted with words before our eyes, yet the narrative never intrudes on the characters or the story. The characters are allowed to speak for themselves."

Her second effort, "A Knight on Horseback," is a contemporary spin on all things medieval and chronicles the life of a woman in the midst of change, from how she pays the bills to thornier issues,such as diaper changes, work hours and men. Her protagonist, Violet Ellison, discovers she doesn't need a knight on horseback to slay her dragons - she just needs a bit of personal space, and maybe some sleep. A reviewer wrote of "A Knight on Horseback," "Don't we all want to find our knight in shining armor? Is it possible? Or is it an untrue, unattainable, unreanights after all, knights on horseback are renaissance from history books and they weren't often so shiny and glamourous. Just as we fantasize about our life and our future only to grow up and find ourselves locked in a, though full and important, mundane routine."

"Armor of Light," is her third published novel and is an historical fantasy, a retelling of the St. George and the Dragon legend, set in Cumbria, England, after the disasterous Fourth Crusade and the sacking of Constantinople. George Ascalon is the earl of Grasmere and returns home to discover he has one last battle - but the decisions he has to make where it concerns life are an even greater struggle. From the Historical Novels Review: "This story is a re-working of "Saint George and the Dragon," with echoes of Beowulf and Lord of the Rings. The feel is lushly medieval, like a colorful tapestry come to life. A riveting battle between Christian elements and pagan evil is almost three-dimensional in nature . . . Ekstrom's prose is luminous, particularly in areas where she is writing about medieval religion. The author knows her purificators from her ambries, and a timeless tale of good versus evil always strikes a chord . . . this story engaged the emotions, and the ending surprises and intrigues."


The fourth novel, "Tallis' Third Tune," has been called extraordinary and sparkling literary fiction, a story that deals with first love, heartbreak, life, death, and everything in between and beyond, a woman's journey into her heart and soul to correct mistakes made where it concerns the two men she has loved the most.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction of the Guidi Counts, March 5, 2005

By 

Catherine M. Lawler "[e-mail]" (San Rafael, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legacy (Paperback)

I very much enjoyed reading this well researched, well written story of a fictional Guidi Count of Romena. Francesco is a very tortured soul, having to battle everyone for his legacy---Count of Romena---including his own remaining family. I was so intrigued with the story that I did some research and realized that Ms. Ekstrom, in fact, did her homework. The Guidi Counts of Tuscany disappeared around 1440 as a result of bankruptcy after backing the King of Milan against the King of Naples. Although Ms. Ekstrom's character is fictional, the events and background data actually happened and one place is even mentioned in Dante's Inferio---the Guidi Count of Porciano. Ms. Ekstrom's story takes place around 1328 in and around Tuscany and she leaves it open for a sequel in the end, which I would definitely like to see her do. I highly recommend this book.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing depiction of 14th century Italy, June 19, 2005

By 

C. W. Gortner - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legacy (Paperback)

In Ellen Eckstrom's debut novel, we encounter the often lethal perfidy and labyrinthine political agendas of Italian Renaissance lords, as seen through the eyes of the fictional Count of Romena - an honorable man in a dishonorable world, whose love for a woman and quest for redemption become mired in the twisted alliances and familial treacheries that preclude, and herald, the arrival of such infamous dynasties as the Borgias and the Medicis.

Impeccably researched, romantic yet never sentimental about the age she portrays, Ms Ecsrorm's novel is a stunning read - a tale of pride, revenge, and love in an long-gone age. Highly recommended for all lovers of historical fiction!

8 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Francesco Guidi : legatee or legator?, March 31, 2006

By 

J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legacy (Paperback)

This novel contains patches of good writing, the promise of an interesting story and, potentially, some interesting characters. Alas, the particular combination of ingredients offered did not work well for me. Which is a pity, because the historical period and location chosen are well worth exploring and a Francesco who used his brain to attain 'his' legacy may well have made an interesting hero. Part way into the book, I ran out of sympathy for/interest in Francesco, and never found any of the other characters compelling enough to make up for this.