Customer Reviews

The Marsh King's Daughter

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

 

 

Born out of wedlock, Miriel Weaver adored her grandfather, a master weaver of fine wool. Her step-father takes over the weaving business upon her grandfather's death and Miriel rebels against him once to often and is packed off to a convent, although her rebellious nature continues and she doesn't exactly get along with life with the nuns either. Nicholas de Caen was a prisoner of King John until the baggage train is lost when the tide overtakes it as they are crossing the marsh. Nicholas reaches shore and finds quite a prize - a fortune in coin and the crown of the Empress Matilda. He is able to hide the treasure before he collapses from the ordeal and is eventually found by Miriel and another nun and nursed back to health.

Miriel follows Nicholas when he leaves and convinces him to escort her to safety in a new town, but when he falls asleep the lure of the crown and the silver is too much and believing she's entitled to some for saving his life she takes what she considers her fair share and soon sets herself up in the wool business. Unable to trace her, Nicholas cuts his loses and uses what is left of the treasure to purchase a ship or two and begins shipping goods. Miriel eventually marries twice, but neither marriage is for love and both are older men. Her second husband Robert is ambitious and controlling and will stop at nothing to achieve his ends, including murder. Of course fate ordains that Nicholas and Miriel's path will cross again - will it develop into love or hate for her betrayal? What will Robert do when he realizes the two have a past connection?

Well, you know I'm not telling - read it for yourself. This was another outstanding saga from Elizabeth Chadwick, I simply cannot get enough of her books, and every one of them sends me back to another world, another time. This was a bit different from the author's usual story; you won't find any lords, ladies or knights in this one. Just a fascinating look at the ins and outs of the wool trade, an interesting foot note in history on the disappearance into the quicksand of King John's treasure. I really enjoyed the pairing of Nicholas and Miriel and as for Robert, what a delightfully OTT baddie. Oh, and for the record I do enjoy a good well-rounded bad guy, I just dislike it when authors use cheap tricks like yellow teeth and stinky breath *telling* me how bad the baddie is instead of *showing* me. Hats off to Ms. Chadwick for knowing the difference. Five stars.

For about the last year or so, I've discovered a new (for me) historical fiction author. She is Elizabeth Chadwick, who sets her stories in 12th and 13th century England and France, with plenty of intriguing characters, psychological drama and details of both history and daily living.

Miriel Fuller is a proud child, despite the fact that she is illegitimate and barely tolerated by her step-father. After a horrific beating at his hands, she is sent off to become a nun at the isolate St. Catherine's in the Marsh, a nunnery in the desolate fens of England's Norfolk. Miriel hates the life there, and is determined to escape, somehow. But without money or anyone to help her, it's a nearly impossible task.

That is, until a mysterious young man turns up half-dead after a disaster out on The Wash, where a royal baggage train has been swept away by the incoming tide. Nicholas de Caen has taken a daring chance to free himself, and fate has cast a dazzling fortune into his grasp, if he dares to use it. But for that, he needs to survive and rebuild his life. When he meets the unhappy Miriel, he sees her only as a novice nun, and so forbidden to him. But he's also grateful to her for helping him save his life, and when she reveals her misery at being locked away from the world, he's moved by pity.

Unfortunately for them both, Miriel is caught by the vicious Sister Euphemia, and is accused of being seduced by Nicholas. He is quickly evicted from the nunnery, despite being terribly ill from his misadventures, and Miriel decides to risk everything rather than being abused again. She manages to escape St. Catherines, and joins Nicholas. He's rather wary of helping her, but agrees to travel with her to Nottingham -- and when Miriel sees the treasure that he carries, she decides that fortune helps those best who help themselves, and carries off some of the treasure for herself to start a new life.

Nicholas isn't too pleased when he finds out that Miriel is gone, but instead of moping about, he sets about building his life. When he discovers Miriel again, she has married -- not just once, but twice -- and her new husband is a powerful wool merchant. Miriel is just as lovely as when he first met her, but they both have secrets to hide, and a sexual attraction to each other that is more than tempting...

I have to say, I really enjoyed this one by Elizabeth Chadwick. With the characters of Miriel and Nicholas, she has created two strong personalities, who have both the survival skills and smarts to make something of their lives after traumatizing setbacks. While some might find the rather ambiguous morality of both of the leads -- Miriel thinks nothing of helping herself to the treasure (after all, she did help to heal Nicholas), and Nicholas finds himself more than willing to use a bit of blackmail to seduce her in return -- I rather enjoyed that. It created a believable tension to the novel, and made the pair very believable -- after all, how many of us could say no to a situation like that? Most of all, it's the fact that both of them go through some pretty life-changing events and learn from their actions. It's this ability that keeps me returning to Chadwick's stories, and her talent at scripting adventures that just might have happened that I find so appealing.

For those who like their historical novels have plenty of details about day to day living, Chadwick really shines here. There are details about food, clothing, the lives of the middle classes, and sailing. And yes, King John did lose a great deal of his personal wealth in a flood, the remains of which have yet to be found nearly eight centuries on.

To judge from the cover, some might think that this is a standard historical romance. It's not. There's plenty of dark deeds afoot -- Miriel's husband Robert is a nasty bit of work -- but you're not going to find any syrupy cliches here. Also, Chadwick avoids the 'nasty, brutish and short' school of thought, and tells her story without getting into the muck and mire of daily living. Instead, she focuses on the inner world of her characters, making them both good and bad, and refreshingly real for their times. While some might complain that it takes too long for the two leads to discover that they do care deeply for each other, well, that just makes the story all the more exciting.

Four solid stars overall. Highly recommended.

Oh. My. God. I cannot believe it has taken me so long to discover Elizabeth Chadwick, but now that I have I am so glad and grateful. Man this woman can write!

The Marsh King's Daughter tells the story of Nicholas de Caen and Miriel Weaver. Nicholas nurses a powerful hatred for King John, son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, who he suspects is the reason for his father's suspicious demise and his own loss of fortune. When Miriel's grandfather dies, her family's successful weaving company becomes the property of her stepfather, Nigel, who loathes Miriel with a passion. One fight too many sends strong willed Miriel packing to the convent of Saint Catherine's, and she vows to find a way to escape and live a successful and independent life of her own. Miriel and Nicholas meet by chance when, close to death, Nicholas is brought to the nunnery to be nursed back to life. Helping her to escape to repay his debt, they part ways in the closest town, Miriel quite a few bags of silver richer, and Nicholas nursing a grudge. Years pass, both becoming quite successful in their chosen paths, until they are thrown together unexpectedly, and neither can deny the passion and attraction between them. But this comes at a dangerous time for both of them. With a jealous spouse, dangerous secret and traitorous pasts, can this ill-starred couple survive the odds?

The Marsh King's Daughter is a brilliant book. Not my favourite from Chadwick, but through no fault of her own. You see, Miriel at times reminded me of a lesser version of a character called Amber St. Clare, from a book called Forever Amber, and the only thing that redeemed Miriel for this reader was the fact that although she was similar to Amber, she was vastly different. Sorry to be so vague, but once you read these books (both of them, they are both awesomely fantastic) you will understand completely. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, I couldn't put the book down at all! Chadwick has this amazing ability to transport you to another time and place, and no matter how many Chadwick's you read- you never get the same story or the same characters. Her descriptions are gorgeous and her attention to historical detail, no matter how small or inconsequential, is meticulous.

Grab yourself a copy today, you won't be dissapointed!

5++++++++++ stars.

I love anything by Elizabeth Chadwick.. She's just the Godmother of historical fiction!

With that being said, this is truly a "treasure" of a novel. Love, lust, betrayal, gold, adventure, defiance, ..you name it and this one has it.

I dont want to include any spoilers in this review, so I'm going to keep it short. But definetly gives this one a go! It will be picked up again in the future from my bookshelf!!

5 STARS!!

This is my first Chadwick novel and I am impressed enough that I am going to read more. Whereas it is not the best book I have ever read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and its heroine, Miriel. In the novel's beginning, Miriel is a young girl whose stepfather is determined to be rid of her. After almost burning down the house, she is sent to a convent. While Miriel is rebelling against the nuns, a man named Nicholas is escaping the current King John's baggage train in which he was being held prisoner. Due to a major catastrophe, Nicholas manages to save not only his life (tho barely), but also the king's treasure. He requires some nursing back to health and Miriel and the nuns aide him in that matter, but scandal soon ensues as Miriel runs away with him. They part on rather negative terms and go their separate ways.

Miriel starts her own wool business with money she stole from Nicholas and marries a few times, the second unknowingly to a man with a very dark personality. Her and Nicholas reunite and make their peace regarding the split treasure and begin a romance behind her cruel husband's back. Lies, secrets, intrigue, and murder ensue. Will Miriel and Nicholas overcome the many obstacles and people standing in the way of their love?

The only thing holding me back from giving this 5 stars is what I call "bed hopping." Miriel goes from her husband's bed to Nicholas's bed and in turn Nicholas is jumping from Miriel's arms into a prostitutes'. The sex scenes were just a tad silly sometimes..."suddenly all the gemstones gathered in the small pleasure core of her loins splintered into thousands of tiny gleaming shards.."

Otherwise, a great novel. Has a little bit of everything.