Customer Reviews

Sybelle (The Roselynde Chronicles, Book 6)

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

 

 

I judge a book by the number of times I re-read it -- and I think I must have read each book in the Roselynde Chronicles about a hundred times. Every time that I think I've choosen my favorite of all the books, I pause and think, "But what about that scene in "Alinor," or "Joanna," or "Gilliane?" This series is an incredibly accurate historical overview of the period from the reign of Richard the Lion-heart through the beginning of the reign of Henry III. At the same time, it presents a rousing good story, with engaging characters and a great plot.

In this book, Sybelle is the daughter of Joanna and Geoffrey, and the granddaughter of Alinor of Roselynde. Sybelle is 16, and her parents and grandparents are urging her to choose a husband. This is no light decision - Sybelle will someday become the Lady of Roselynde, and her husband will have the responsibility of protecting and governing the lands with her.

The plot develops not only the very personal story of Sybelle's courtship and marriage, but also presents us with the grand sweep of English history - across Wales and western England, from Llewellyn, the Prince of Gwynned (Wales), to a rebellious Richard, earl of Pembroke, to the young Henry III of England - and presents it all from both a personal and a political viewpoint.

I cannot say that I enjoyed this book more than the other 5 books in the Roselynde Chronicles. But I will say that I have enjoyed it and the other books with frequent re-readings over the past 20 or more years, and that I will continue to enjoy it with frequent re-readings in the future.

This final entry by Gellis in her Roselynde Chronicles is the story of Sybelle, Geoffrey and Joanna's daughter, and Alinor's granddaughter and heiress to the Roselynde lands and legacy. Now sixteen, it is time for her to marry and she sets her sights on the older Walter de Clare who along with the Earl of Pembroke (William Marshal's son) is in rebellion against Henry III. Pembroke's widowed sister in law Marie sets her sights on Walter as well and her evil manipulations threaten to interfere with Sybelle's and Walter's marriage and happiness.

While this was an entertaining enough read it didn't have me glued to the very end like the first three in the series did. I hate to say it, but the chemistry between the pair just didn't sing to me, and there was one love scene where they um ah "did it" without really doing it that was just a little weird, and then not much of anything on the wedding night. However, I did enjoy the way the author brought back the memory of Simon, Alinor's first husband on Sybelle's wedding day. That was a nice touch.

As always, Gellis provides lots of historical detail on the period and political intrigues of the times, but in this book you will find more of that and less of any real romance. Three stars for the love story between Sybelle and Walter and four stars for Gellis' superb historical details. 3.5 stars.

For Gellis fans, this is familiar attention to detail and a story line that has some unexpected twists and turns. We are reintroduced to Sybelle, Geoffrey and Joanna's daughter, Alinor's granddaughter, who is to be the heir to Roselynde. The family is shopping for a husband and helpmate for her and has in mind a friend of Simon's. Walter is enchanted with Sybelle but unsure of the requirement that he be tolerate women with power in their own right and expectations of being treated as vocal equals...and the requirement to be a faithful husband. He is shown to grow and overcome his more prosaic notions and Sybelle also becomes a more tolerant and wiser character as she matures quickly in the face of adversity and civil war. Political intrigues abound as does the trechery of another women who wants Walter. A good read with complexities.