Good book, well written, but not an original theme. Another book looking at the Cathar Crusade and a female bloodline descended from a relative of Jesus Christ. ( )

Un mundo, el de la primera mitad del siglo XIII en el sudoeste de Francia, empieza a tambalearse cuando los grandes señores y los agentes papales descubren la existencia de manuscritos celtas que pueden hacer peligrar la fe católica, un saber custodiado por grandes oradores del catarismo. Inmersos en una espiral de violencia, los señores de Montvallant buscarán aliados para detener una barabarie que amenaza con arrasar a las generaciones venideras.

Loved the history and characters, wasn't really into all the mysticism, etc.

Narrator was really good! ( )

This is probably my least favourite of all Elizabeth Chadwick's books, that being said it's still a great read. It focuses on the Albigensian Crusade in France in the early thirteenth century, this part I loved as I knew nothing about it before reading this. I think the bit I wasn't as keen on was the mysticism and magical powers Bridget and Magda seem to have, I like the history Chadwick presents in her novels but this was straying into fantasy in parts and it just got a bit weird. ( )

I've never read anything about the Albigensian Crusade nor about Cathars before. I mean, I've read mentions of them when reading medieval non-fiction, but it was only in passing and as footnotes. Yet, Elizabeth Chadwick brings it to bold and brilliant life in this book. I felt the peace the Cathars felt as they went willingly to their deaths, the never-ending fear of being forever hunted by a fanatical sector of the Roman Church, and the love that springs between individuals despite the horror of persecution. Chadwick's talent at world building and transporting her readers into the past shows itself again with wonderful skill.

Elizabeth Chadwick brings her characters to vivid life again, as well. I especially enjoyed Magda and her romance with Dominic. One of those fated loves are always a joy to read for me. Magda isn't afraid to stick up for what she wants in life, a man who will walk life with her and not only father a child on her. Raoul also was a character after my own heart. A man who devotes his life to his people and his family, trying to better their lives and protect them to the best of his ability given the harsh circumstances of a Crusade against them. I was not especially in love with Bridget, though. I found her very hard to connect with. She seemed almost too good to be true, too sure of her place in life and where that life is to go. There only seemed to be that one goal in life and almost no other direction for her character. Probably why I feel more connected to her daughter than her.

The use of fantastical elements like the Sight and hands on healing actually worked fairly well. I went into the novel expecting to have to grit my teeth and skim over those parts for the beauty of the historical setting that I knew would be there, given the author. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The use of these magic elements were woven into the narrative in a way that presented them as just another thread in the tapestry of the story. They weren't front and center; Magda and Bridget were pretty blase about them actually. And while some of the other characters seemed a little too blase at times (I mean, your girlfriend can heal with a touch and you just blink in a medieval setting?!?!), that part wasn't really that big a part. Things kept flowing on story wise and everything was woven into the overall plot nicely.

I vastly enjoyed this addition to my medieval historical fiction shelf. Elizabeth Chadwick does it again with talent and aplomb. And while some of the characters were a bit hard for me to connect with, everything else came together to create a fantastic story. ( )