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Devoted [ABRIDGED] [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio Cassette)

~ (Author), Michael Page (Reader)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Do not pity Alice Borchardt. Her sister, Anne Rice, may be immensely better known, but Borchardt, the older sister, is Rice's equal in presenting lush otherworlds balanced with historical detail. Indeed, Rice, in an introduction to Devoted, cites Borchardt as an inspiration for her own fiction and an early collaborator in imaginative excess. Like the Brontës before them, the sisters' childhood was spent sharing a dream world peopled with heroes, heroines, pirates, and aliens.

As a first work, Devoted may presage the author's potential. It reads as though she were shaking the tree of her imagination to see what will drop. One story can hardly contain all the fruitful ideas that fall. Set in the year 900, the story centers on a medieval stronghold beset by invading Vikings, corrupt feudal landlords, and a traitor within. Owen, Bishop of Chantalon, is a Christian; Elin, beaten, raped, and forced into slavery by the Vikings, is of the Forest People, pagans with magical skills. Through their union, Borchardt explores the conflict between paganism and early Christianity and the flagrant inequalities between men and women, the nobility and the lesser born, and people with different beliefs. These large themes make the story overlong, sometimes threatening to take it over. But the monumental, blood-soaked clashes between the Saxons and the Vikings; the descriptions of household artifacts, weaponry, and fashion in the Middle Ages; and, of course, the heart of the tale: the love that is hammered into being like a coat of woven mail between Owen and Elin, make this first novel a worthwhile read. --Brenda Pittsley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



From Publishers Weekly

Gut-roiling battle scenes are the strength of this first novel set in ninth-century France, but they come too late and too infrequently to inspire most readers to forgive the overwrought prose that surrounds them. Owen, Bishop of Chantalon, risks his life to save Elin, a forest girl of sorceresslike powers who has escaped the Viking camp where she was enslaved. Undying love develops between the two?instantly, with no setbacks and little tension?and is expressed often and graphically. Viking raiders are terrorizing the region; their menace is exacerbated by Count Anton and his bastard son Gerlos, who collect tributes from the people for the Vikings but keep part of the confiscated riches for themselves. Betrayed by his friend Reynald, Owen is captured by the "Northmen" but quickly saved by his Saxon henchman Enar and a band of Elin's "forest people." Later, Elin's mystical powers curse Reynald to his death and bring on a storm to defeat the northern invaders. Borchardt effectively conjures life in a far-flung era, but more action and less romance might have made this tale of an odd alliance between early Christians and European pagans a fresher read.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Audio Cassette
  • Publisher: Paperback Nova Audio Books; Abridged edition (September 1, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1567401287
  • ISBN-13: 978-1567401288
  • Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,332,560 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Alice Borchardt
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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone Heard of the Hieros Gamos?, November 21, 2000
By Sires (It's a Toss Up Right Now) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
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Ms. Borchardt does a wonderful job in this book of drawing together Pagan and Christian sources. She reaches into Celtic lore, 9th century chistian belief, shamanic ritual and Germanic myth to create a world where religion and forces of nature are in flux. Part of this is the sacred marriage between the male and female principles (hieros gamos). The various sexual acts in this story illustrate the uses of sex from the sacred to the profane. That's not to say they aren't fun-- because they are. But they are an integral and interesting part of the story.

It's not necessary that the reader know a lot about 9th century France, shamanism or pagan myth, but it doesn't hurt.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL PREMISE, PROMISING PLOT, BUT FELL SHORT, August 14, 1998
By A Customer
I loved the way I felt as I opened up this book and began to read. The promise of a thumping good read in historical fiction-- my favorite. But as I read on, the story is continuously, unexpectedly , interrupted by odd segments of gratuitous sex that read as if they were inserted to satisfy the romance genre. While I loved the premise of the heroine and hero, their characters did not captivate me. The character development somehow did not have me giving a darn about these people. I'd turn the page and end up somewhere lost in a sudden change of scene. My personal review of three stars was given due to the wonderful historical detail and plot, not to the writing itself. But I would read something of hers again...there's something that smells of promise here. This book just wasn't as fulfilling as I had hoped. Perhaps my expectations were too high. But a good read overall, and as I mentioned earlier, excellent historical detail!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful historical tale, July 1, 2001
I was totally enthralled and engrossed in this novel. The characters are wonderful and the attention to detail and character developement is first rate. I particularly love the humourous touches and more than once I found myself laughing out loud. There really is something for everyone in this novel....lots of violence and bloodshed, lots of romance including sexy scenes, lots of humour and great historical detail. Highly recommended, and i have just started reading the sequel and it promises to be just as good.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Battle reaelm of love!
Devoted is one of the most fantastic book of 1995! Why did this book didn't get any awards or nominations? I like it! Read more
Published on March 26, 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Gripping Audio Narration
I listened to the Unabridged Audio version of Devoted, and WOW, all I can say is this novel packs a punch! Read more
Published on September 20, 2004 by SereneNight

5.0 out of 5 stars Devoted
As one of the previous reviewers mentioned, I picked this book on sale at a local book store. Since I am fascinated with the idea of the supernatural, I found this book... Read more
Published on August 27, 2000 by J. Pridemore

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
I picked the hardcover version of this book up at used book store. I'll be honest, it was the 'Introduction by Anne Rice' printed on the cover that caught my attention. Read more
Published on August 16, 2000 by vampress.net

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Story but with a surprising disappointment!
When I started this book I was hit by the depth of detail and character development. I thought, This is a keeper!! Read more
Published on May 20, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful! Exciting!Romantic! Beautiful!
I love Anne Rice, and when I found out she had asister who was a writer too, I almost died. Devoted is lush and beautiful, I espeacialy love Owen(Total Babe) and... Read more
Published on March 29, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, gripping, satisfying.
This is one of the finest historicals I have ever read. Above all, the characters, the dialogue, and the relationships were believable and fascinating. Read more
Published on January 16, 1999 by Joseph McBride

3.0 out of 5 stars Devote your time to something else
This is the first novel that I have read by Alice Borchardt. I found the beginning to be enthralling, but as the story dragged on, I got bored with the common use of language... Read more
Published on April 23, 1998

3.0 out of 5 stars A teensy bit better than the average bodice-ripper.
The liner notes claimed this book was "an intricate, superbly researched tapestry of the Middle Ages", which gave me hope. Read more
Published on October 14, 1997

5.0 out of 5 stars Take the audio of this one on your next trip.
Having read Devoted at least twice I have to admit I can't wait to read it again. Alice Borchardt's style is so clean. Read more
Published on July 26, 1997

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