May 30, 2011
Angelic visions mix uncomfortably with 15th-century Scottish politics in a historical tale with a substantial paranormal streak. The Blythe family has long been scattered; obsessed by angels after a vision of his dead wife, Angelica, the laird succumbed to madness, while son Julius was charged with treason and daughter Isabeau was sent to the court of James IV. Courted by the roguish Sir George Douglas, Isabeau returns to Blythe Hall only to find that Julius has quietly returned as well. And when James himselfâcaptivated by Isabeau's friend, Marion Boydâsecretly follows, Isabeau is swept into a whirlwind of border warfare threaded with gothic mystery. While those around her maneuver for power, Isabeau is haunted by dreams of a golden being and the possibility that the guardian angel of Blythe Hall may be less fantasy than fact. Hannah (The Exile of Sara Stevenson) delivers a colorful depiction of Scottish border life and the intrigue surrounding the youthful James that combines oddly with her detours into the mystical for an uneasy and somewhat forced mixture that will raise eyebrows among readers of historical fiction while failing to fully satisfy paranormal diehards.
July 1, 2011
This delightful tale set in the late 1400sin Scotland follows Isabeau Blythe as she returns to her ancestral home as its heir. She is determined to distance herself from her family's past, as both her father and brother were undone by their obsession with angels, and thus to run the holdings on her own terms. The surprise appearance of her brother and the intrigues of a neighboring nobleman scheming for her hand in marriage force Isabeau to confront parts of herself she had been avoiding. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction based on strong-willed women. There are elements of magic in this story, including a person whom Isabeau feels crosses the line between reality and daydream. The characters are beautifully described, as is the countryside, and they even touch on the intrigues at the royal court. Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read with a satisfying if surprising ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)