Roses of Roazon [Hardcover]

Cherith Baldry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2004

When icon painter Alissende presents Joscelin, the new Duke of Roazon, with a beautifully depicted image that shows the divinity as a Healer, she is not aware of the impact her painting will have on the history of Avorig. The Church agrees that their deity has so far only shown himself as a Warrior or Judge and has acute difficulties in accepting, this new worldview, except as a heresy. Before Joscelin is forced to abdicate, having become strongly convinced of this new message, he and his closest following - including Sir Valery de Vaux and his cousin Bertrand - flee from the holy city and try and find refuge in one of the neighbouring castles. The new political situation opens the gates for opposition and intrigue from other noblemen who claim the throne for themselves and therefore Joscelin and his people find themselves, on an eventful and dangerous journey before they can try to return to Roazon. And above all they are confronted with an evil power that has been lurking beneath the sea for aeons, and is only known through myths. When Autrys rises again, its intention is to eliminate not only Duke Joscelin but the whole of Roazon and the values it stands for.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cherith Baldry was born in Lancashire and studied at Manchester University and St Anne's College, Oxford. She subsequently worked as a teacher, including a spell as a lecturer at the University of Sierra Leone. Cherith is now a full-time writer of fiction for both children and adults.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan (April 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333989694
• ISBN-13: 978-0333989692
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected Delight, June 6, 2011

By 

Sharman Horwood "sharmanh" (Seoul Korea (South)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Roses of Roazon (Paperback)

I had no illusions when I began this book, except that a good friend said, "read it." I'm glad she did.

Arvorig is a land that has dukes rather than princes or kings, yet still has the same political problems: what one duke has, another wants. The story begins, however, with the newly appointed Duke of Roazon wearing a pendant that shows him as a god-like healer, a facet of the national religion that has never before been shown. Since he is the church's representative, this image isn't just a surprise; it's definitely not what the church has authorized. The other dukes and knights immediately use this to claim he is a heretic, and if the church denounces him, then he will be removed from office. He is the Duke of Roazon, a city that is wealthy and one where great craftsmen and women live, making it a prize to many, particularly the other dukes and knights. Unfortunately, while the point of whether or not his icon is heretical, whether or not the duke himself is heretical, this conflict opens the door for evil to enter the world in the form of Autrys, a legendary land with demons and other foul creatures who quickly attack the people of Arvorig.

This is an adult novel, as is clear from the beginning of the story, not like the YA novels that Cherith Baldry usually writes. The characters are well-drawn and interesting, and the subsequent story kept me turning the pages well into the night. Although the story line does rely a bit too much, in my opinion, on modern religious beliefs, in the end this didn't damage my overall liking of the book. I look forward to reading the sequel.