Customer Reviews

The Maiden and the Unicorn

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm having difficulty rating this book. On the one hand, it's well-written, well plotted and well researched. On the other hand, reading it was a terribly vexing experience for me. If you like alpha heros who treat the heroine like dirt throughout the entire book and then she falls in love with him anyway, this is the book for you. I am not one of those who enjoy that type of story. The author really gives you a feel for the time period, although it's too heavy on the political maneuvers of the time (especially near the end). In spite of heaviness of the uninteresting political part of the plot, this would have been a wonderful read for me, except I kept rooting for the heroine to go join a convent than stay with her complete jerk of a husband.

I read this book in one evening and then read it again the next day. I found that Martyn not only focussed on the two main characters but the surroundings and other characters. As a result, a rich tapestry was woven as the story continued.

Martyn managed to obscure Richards actions just enough, so that I started to doubt whether my initial assessment was correct.

This book is an exceptional read and I believe it was a good introduction to historical romance.

Put very simply, I found this book totally enchanting and enjoyable and a marvelous read. It was no surprise that Isolde Martyn won this year's award in Australia for the Historical Romance of the Year. Being a lover of English history, I found Martyn's historical accuracy of the period well researched, and no shortcuts were taken, a failing I find of so many authors of historical romance.

On the romantic side of the story, who could fail to fall in love with Richard Huddleston, as I did within the first few pages, and Margery's adventures were a joy! It's a wonderful story, engrossing and entertaining, and I can heartily recommend this book to lovers of historical romance. I now look forward, with great anticipation, to Isolde Martyn's second novel.

Put very simply, I found this book totally enchanting and enjoyable and a marvelous read. It was no surprise that Isolde Martyn won this year's award in Australia for the Historical Romance Novel of the Year. Being a lover of English history, I found Martyn's historical accuracy of the period well researched, and no shortcuts were taken, a failing I find of so many authors of historical romance.

On the romantic side of the story, who could fail to fall in love with Richard Huddleston, as I did within the first few pages, and Margery's adventures were a joy! It's a wonderful story, engrossing and entertaining, and I can heartily recommend this book to lovers of historical romance. I now look forward, with great anticipation, to Isolde Martyn's second novel.

It's so nice to come upon a (late) medieval romance novel with a real plot, rather than just a plot-like set of excuses for the protagonists to fight and jump into bed. Using actual historic personages, about whom probably not much more is known than that they lived, married, and died, the author has spun a lively tale of political intrigue and nearly thwarted love, while maintaining historical integrity and circumstantial plausibility. Brava!

GREAT NEW AUTHOR
This book is absolutely fantastic, and the award bestowed on it (the Rita award for 'Best First Novel 2000' from Romance Writers of America) comes as no surprise. The author has woven a perfect blend of characters and history to portray a very convincing version of 15th Century England and France.
The well-researched historical background enhances the story - which flows effortlessly - without overwhelming it.
I found all the characters interesting and well constructed, and the two main characters were enchanting. The antics of Richard Huddleston's deerhound adds humour to the story.
From someone who has read 100's of historical novels, this book ranks in my Top 3, and I'm looking forward to reading the author's second book 'The Knight and The Rose' - also an award winner.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an intelligently written, witty, and well researched historical (romance) novel.
A definite 'must-read' for all historical romance readers.

Isolde Martyn's Maiden and the Unicorn (published in Australia as Lady and the Unicorn) is a wonderfully rich tale of love and romance, set against a backdrop of medieval political intrigue. Portraying a spirited, intelligent heroine and a strong, attractive hero, Martyn weaves an elaborate tapesty, full of evocative imagery and historic detail concerning the everyday and political life of her period, as well as a depth of psychological understanding of male-female relationships. The result is a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable story full of sexual tension which is deeply satisfying for both romance and historical readers alike. The power and intelligence of Martyn's writing comes through spendidly with this first novel, and it certainly deserves its recent shortlisting for the Romance Novel of the Year Award. I can't wait for her next novel, The Knight and the Rose. Highly recommended!

It took me ten days to read this book and I swear I thought I'd never get it done! It's not that it was boring; quite the contrary, actually. It was riveting. The historical detail was intense. I have always been fascinated with the Kingmaker, the Earl of Warwick and this book positively oozed details about him and that time period (1470s).

However, if you're looking for a light, easy read, this is not the book to pick up. It was a little too intense, especially toward the end. The romance between the two real-life but minor players in history should have lightened things up a bit but it didn't. They seemed to secretly hate each other; all the while the author was trying to convince the reader that they really loved each other. Somewhere, someone along the way seems to have mistaken lust for love...

I couldn't like Margery. There was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way. She was the epitome of that old adage, cutting off your nose to spite your face. It was irritating, to say the least. Richard was the typical medieval gentleman, overbearing and argumentative. He was far more likable than Margery, however.

I give this book a four overall because I'm a sucker for a seriously historical novel. As a romance, I give it one tiny star. It was something far less than romantic.

This story contains graphic love scenes.

During the turbulent period known as the War of the Roses, Marjorie of Warwick finds herself caught between love and loyalty, wed to a man who would thwart her duty to her former love, King Edward of England. Danger stalks them as they travel through France on a dangerous mission, caught in the tangled politics of ambition and revenge.

Martyn's novel is an exciting action filled historical romance. The story is well plotted, her lead characters, Marjorie and Sir Richard Huddlestone are appealing and intriguing and the historical background convincingly drawn. There is little doubt the author did a great deal of research and readers should enjoy the depth of this detail and the period politics alongside the developing romance between Marjorie and Richard.

Nearly all the characters are actual historical figures and the author does an excellent job of portraying them as flesh, blood and flawed. Fans of the era will particularly enjoy the scene where Warwick meets Margaret of Anjou to ask her forgiveness and begs her help with his invasion plans.

I did have a problem with a rather long torture scene that seemed out of place, nonetheless, still an enjoyable top notch read.

The Maiden and The Unicorn is one of the best crafted romance novels I have read. The language is rich and pulls you right into the feel of the period. Isolde Martyn truly deserves the accolades garnered for this book. She keeps the magic woven through every page drawing you into the intrigue of those turbulent and dangerous times of 15th century English and European politics. Her characters are real, they keep within the world they inhabit and that agains helps to keep the spell she waves going. I read this book in one sitting until four in the morning, savouring each word and the usage of language. Isolde brings Romance writing to the next level of literary standards.