Customer Reviews

A Moonlit Knight (Signet Eclipse)

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

 

 

This novel has the intriguing concept of a female knight. I thought immediately of the great "Fires of Winter" by Johanna Lindsay, which features the Celtic swordswoman Brenna. Alas, this novel cannot compare. It gets off to a good start but soon takes a wrong turn.
There is nothing wrong with the character of Mallory, the heroine; she is indeed a kick-[...] warrior. However, we are offered glimpses of various characters, such as Queen Eleanor of Aquitane and the hero's brother Goddard, only to have these characters dismissed after a few sentences. They are supposed to play an important part in the narrative, but the author just shuffles them off as soon as they have served their purpose, and they never become real characters. Other cardboard characters include the hero's father, Mallory's rival Lady Elita and a couple of other disposable knights.
Also, Saxon, the hero, is full of disdain for Mallory when he first sees her-we're talking serious dislike. We are expected to believe that the very next time he sees her, his attitude completely changes and he goes ga-ga over her. While this sort of conflicted relationship is typical of romance novels, it is usually accomplished with a little more grace. Saxon's attitude goes from one extreme to the other and never switches back at all. In fact, Saxon is so enamored of Mallory that he conveniently appears around every corner to save her. There isn't much real suspense, as we know that every time Mallory breaks a nail, Saxon will be there with an emery board to file it off. And sadly, the love scenes remind me of something from a teen romance novel (only more expicit, of course!)
I applaud the author for writing about a woman warrior, but the overall effort is lacking in maturity.

St. Jude's Abbey is no ordinary Abbey. Here young women are trained to be warriors. Mallory de Sainte-Sebastian has been trained within the Abbey walls and is a formidable archer. When she is called upon to serve the Queen, Mallory gladly does so. Assigned to protect and guard Queen Eleanor during the revolt against King Henry, Mallory works to uncover enemies surrounding the Queen.

Saxon Fitz-Juste is surprised by the Queen's choice of warrior. Mallory is not at all what the royal court's troubadour expected. Her fighting skills are amazing and impressive. Her beauty alluring and irresistible. Saxon appears to be as concerned for Queen Eleanor's safety as Mallory. And he also appears to be more than just a troubadour.

Mallory and Saxon's desire draws them together. But the danger at the royal court is increasing. And Mallory soon learns that with the Queen's life on the line, she can trust no one. Not even Saxon.

I love a kick-butt heroine and did not expect to find one in a medieval romance. I was astounded to see one in Moonlit Knight! Mallory is a warrior in every sense of the word. I was afraid that her strength would over-shadow Saxon, but thankfully that was not the case. His secrets and intrigue made him every bit as strong a character. A true match for Mallory!

If you enjoy medieval romances for the palace intrigue and steamy romance, you'll love Moonlit Knight. If you wish the heroines in medieval romance had more depth and were a greater part of the action, you'll adore Moonlit Knight. Mallory and Saxon are steamy, smart and totally able to defend themselves and others. It was exciting, thrilling and very romantic! Jocelyn Kelley has renewed my love of medieval romance with her unusual, but brilliant, perspective.

Annabelle
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Queen Eleanor d'Aquitaine goes to St. Jude's Abbey in England for a third time. Sister/Lady Mallory de Saint-Sebastian is the best archery person within the abbey. Mallory will be the sister of St. Jude's Abbey to serve the queen and join her pantheon of heroines.

The two King Henrys (father and son) battle to see which one rightfully holds the English throne and controls the destinies of all who live within their realm. Queen Eleanor is residing at her court in Poitiers. There are times when Queen Eleanor's guards cannot be with her. For those times, she needs a lady who can protect her. Therefore, Lady Mallory becomes part of the queen's personal household guards.

Queen Eleanor's "Court of Love" is anything but what the title describes. The court overflows in subterfuge, gossip, and betrayal. When the queen's life is in danger, Mallory and her bow are there. Thus the queen requests that Mallory teach archery to her ladies. Of course Mallory obeys, but none of the queen's ladies are serious about it. They prefer to flirt with any man nearby. So Mallory finds herself protecting the queen, dealing with sappy ladies, and wondering just what Saxon Fitz-Juste is really up to. He may really be a jongleur, playing a lute and captivating people with his tales, but something does not sit quite right.

***** Each book is a story in itself. This tale is full of drama and kept me wondering who Mallory could possibly trust in the court of snakes. The history of this knightly era makes a perfect back ground for the characters. The author keeps history straight, never bending it to her own whim, and this makes it so believable. Whether you love history, historical romances, or simply high drama, this book is made just for you! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

As she has done twice before (see A KNIGHT LIKE NO OTHER and ONE KNIGHT STAND) Queen Eleanor d'Aquitaine visits St. Jude's Abbey seeking specialized assistance, a female bodyguard. Lady Mallory de Saint-Sebastian is the chosen one to join the Queen's guard as her archery is by far the best of those residing in the special abbey.

Mallory is taken aback with the backstabbing and betrayal of those claiming allegiance to Queen Eleanor at her misnamed "Court of Love". One of them takes it a step further trying to assassinate Her Highness. Mallory risks her life to keep Eleanor safe. The Queen also asks Mallory to teach her ladies in waiting how to use a bow, but the frivolous females think that is a man's job and only go through the motions so as to avoid Eleanor's wrath. Mallory also notices lute playing Saxon Fitz-Juste, who seems a lot more than just a traveling jongleur; she plans to find out if he is a threat to her responsibility though deep down she hopes not because she finds him so very attractive.

The third Ladies of St. Jude's Abbey novel is a delightful historical romance with the emphasis on the court intrigue of the era. The story line is action-packed from the moment that Queen Eleanor selects Lady Mallory and never slows down until the final confrontation between the heroine and Saxon. Readers will enjoy the reaction of the male bodyguards to the hiring of a female to join their ranks as Jocelyn Kelly provides another fabulous twelfth century tale.

Harriet Klausner