Prisoners of Hope: Book Three of the Latter Annals of Lystra [Paperback]

Robin Hardy

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2005

Under Ares' command, Lystra has successfully defended her capital from invasion by a Qarqarian usurper who wants the legitimate heir, whom Ares is sheltering, dead. But this defense has come at the heartbreaking cost of many casualties among Ares' youngest soldiers. In apparent gratitude, the ruler of neighboring Calle Valley invites Ares to inspect the ships confiscated from the enemy, now harbored at Prie Mer. So Ares accepts, bringing his young wife Nicole, a native of Prie Mer. Once there, they discover that their host intends to keep them prisoners, for if he can do away with Ares, then that will end the line of Roman. But Ares and Nicole are harboring their own secret hope, based on a promise thousands of years old. Prisoners of Hope is the third book of the Latter Annals of Lystra, which begins with Nicole of Prie Mer and continues with Ares of Westford. Robin Hardy is the author of the Sammy series, the Streiker Saga, the Annals of Lystra, the Latter Annals of Lystra, and Padre. She is also the editor of W.W. Melton's classic devotional, Sifted But Saved. For photos, articles, guest features, and updates on new releases, see Robin's website at www.robinhardy.com.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Prisoners of Hope will take readers captive!" -- In the Library Reviews, Oct. 7, 2005

From the Publisher

What is hope? Why is this channeled discontent with present circumstances such a driving force of emotion? The answer we find in Robin’s third Latter Annals episode is that hope is Divine in its origin; it is the supernatural conceiving of fulfillment. Robin’s readers can return with delight to the medieval setting and the persons to whom we have become so attached: Ares and Nicole, Renee and Henry, Giles and Carmine; and a few more worthy of our introduction; however, new readers can dive with relish right into the series, with no previous experience necessary.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Westford Press (September 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976196417
• ISBN-13: 978-0976196419
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,463,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been writing Christian fiction for 27 years now, with five publishers. What I have learned (and keep learning) is that the most powerful story in the world is that of redemptive love. So I keep working at it, trying to get the story right, and to adequately express something that is really beyond me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars prisoners of hope, December 18, 2005

By 

Grace Fox (Rogue Valley, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prisoners of Hope: Book Three of the Latter Annals of Lystra (Paperback)

Staying true to form, Robin confounds and surprises her readers in this latest addition to the Latter Annals of Lystra. The imagery and intesne plotline keep the laughs and tears coming. The characters are even richer and more potent than they were in the previous book. I was hooked for eight hours straight (as I usually am with Robin's books), and devoured each page. What can I say? If you've already read "Nicole" and "Ares," you MUST read this book!! If you haven't read them yet, read them! These books are way more than just stories... but you'll have to read them to know what I mean. ;)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hope That Doesn't Disappoint..., October 8, 2005

By 

Lit Chic "~Stephanie" (The Lone Star State) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Prisoners of Hope: Book Three of the Latter Annals of Lystra (Paperback)

Ever wished for something more in fiction--Christian fiction for that matter?

While the rest of the world (secular and Christian) attempts to be simultaneously satisfying and real by descending into a quagmire of tragedies fraught with human error, suffering and (at best) bittersweet endings, Robin Hardy is once again marching to the beat of her own drum. With each succeeding book, she delves a little deeper and climbs a little higher, and the latest installment of the medieval Latter Annals of Lystra strikes a Divine chord in addition to being a riveting page-turner. (This review is being composed at 2am.)

In Prisoners of Hope, the nearness and realness of the characters come to the forefront: we watch helplessly as Nicole and Ares become virtual prisoners, wait with fierce impatience as Ares plays his political cards, laugh in disbelief at more of the Chataine Renee's antics, and tearfully read the conclusion that at once reveals that "all things work together for good" both immediately and over the long term. And we wait in wonder in agreement with the angel who utters: "A good thing is coming to pass..."

But Robin Hardy readers already know that "reality" is not meandering through the journey of life staying merely afloat and deriving partial satisfaction; rather it is the supernatural realization that sufferings are vital for the happiest and most fulfilling ending of all. This reviewer happily declares Ms. Hardy to be the most gifted story teller of our generation, and Prisoners of Hope is a great way to get acquainted with her.

--The Medieval Chick

1.0 out of 5 stars Really quite poor, December 30, 2011

By 

elfgiva (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prisoners of Hope: Book Three of the Latter Annals of Lystra (Paperback)

A lot of fans have raved about the deep moral and spiritual messages in this story, but, as far as I can see there is little of either. It has been some time since I read this book, so I hope readers will forgive me if I make a mistake, or remember something incorrectly.

It appears that the author has avoided using certain terms that may have specific Christian connotations, and has opted for more broad, vague and neutral terms like 'religious experience' instead of conversion or salvation, and 'malevolent spiritual activity' or 'supernatural evil' instead of demonic.
Fans of this series have tried to excuse this by claiming that Medieval people only had a limited understanding of theology, but any serious examination of Medieval Religion reveals that many people at this time believed in Satan and demons, and that such powers could influence aspects of the Material world. So the avoidance of these specifically Christian terms cannot be justified according to the 'historical' setting.

The Vision scene in the last few chapters of the story is bizarre, obscure and often plain absurd. There are female angels, and others who go around exacting summary vengeance against Adulterous Men (women are apparently exempt), who are the only ones to he held guilty in acts of Marital infidelity, and watching over 'faithful' people who pray. The implications of this? Your 'guardian angel' will take care of people who 'sin against' or even offend you perhaps? Aside from this it is nigh on impossible to extract any serious Spiritual Lessons from this passage. The hero's 'epiphany' culminates in him asserting the Divinity of Jesus.

The story itself and its resolution is simply corny, clichéd and generally implausible. There is plenty of formulaic Political Intrigue, which is apparently essential to the story. The characters behaviour, considering that they are supposed to be mature sophisticated adults is simply ridiculous.
The Heroine gets upset when the wife of a Rival King criticises her Fashion sense and dressing style, and her Husband uses the Slutty Princess Renee to get Revenge on her, with some petty insults which are supposed to be funny, but are really just Childish. The ememy King (or Surchatain) is conviniently killed in a battle 'by an arrow that came from nowhere'
and his nobles are only too happy to hand over the control of the Kingdom to Ares without question. The villains are one-dimensional and utterly unconvincing. Being unpleasant or nasty the Hero is enough to qualify a character for Vilification and make them a baddie, and Insulting or failing to Please Princess Renee is apparently the Cardinal Sin.

Every one of the enemies or rivals of the Lystran Protagonists is depicted as utterly stupid, foolish or Gullible, who can be duped by people donning disguises and assumed identities, or be browbeaten by threats.
None of them have counsellors or advisors who are able to see through the ploys of the Lystrans, or react to them in any way.

The Bad guys are supposed to be Evil for invading Lystra, deposing the Rightful ruler or ignoring peasants, yet the Lystran heroes routinely do the first two, and it is quite acceptable. Their political rivals are evil if they commit Murder, yet the Lystrans can go around killing or deposing out Kings and Nobles who they do not like, or whose methods they do not approve of, and this is morally right, apparently.

These scenarios do seem to faintly resemble the arrogant air of moral superiority, dubious justifications for aggression and double standards that colour modern American foreign policy (no offence to American people in general intended).
Such a stance appears to be the basis on the characters values and motivations in this degree, rather than a Historically accurate perception and portrayal of Medieval dynastic politics, and the Medieval attitude towards the role of warfare, as well as the way rulers were supposed to relate to these.

The attitude to, and uses of Religion by the characters Imply nothing more than a Petty and capricious deity who can be relied upon to get his people He likes out of difficult situations, and helps his favourites.
On a Moral level, the behaviour and responses of the characters are also utterly implausible and unrealistic.

Princess Renee makes sexual advances towards every man she sees, including openly doing so in front of her husband, and nobody regards her behaviour and chosen representative of the Province and a prominent member of the rulring family as scandalous, shameful, or in any way unacceptable.
In the Medieval world if a Royal Princess really behaved in such as way she would have aquired a very bad reputation amongst many of her peers, and would not be so well-thought of as the character on Renee universally is.

Her husband does not become Jealous or her Promiscuity and Infidelity, as would not uncommonly happen in the Real world, or the Medieval times, and none of the other characters become resentful or better at the Ruler's favourable Treatment of his friends.

Again in the Medieval world, such behaviour on the part of a ruler would almost certainly cause resentment and be perceived as unjust.
The resolution of the tale is so Predictable and implausible, when the enemy King is conveniently dispatched by an arrow 'that came from nowhere' and his Nobles just come and hand over the Ruler ship to the Lystran King. This without bothering to find a New ruler from among the deceased rulers relations, which would have been the usual policy on the death of the ruler.

I seriously question whether this author has any real depth of Knowledge of the Medieval era, aside from Clothes and food. Each successful novel in the series follows more or less the same formula and pattern, with a predictable resolution in which 'everything returns to normal' and a token happy ending.

This gives the stories a cheap, poorly written, unoriginal and unimaginative feel, with each as more of the same. The only thing that can spice up the otherwise rather boring and slow plot are a few sex scenes, and some smattering of crass humour, though admittedly less then in the previous two prequel novels.

Altogether, a poor Historical novel, and a poor Christian story, the same can be said for all of the series thus far. If you want a standard Trashy Romance novel pick this one up. Otherwise one to avoid.