In Pursuit of the Green Lion: A Margaret of Ashbury Novel (Margaret of Ashbury Trilogy) [Paperback]

What is 14th century historical fiction without a touch of the arcane, folk mythology, faith healers and alchemists in search of the secret of life? In a European continent riddled with religion, politics and rampant superstitions, ghosts converse freely with the living, good and evil jousting for ascendancy. Such is the case in 1358 England, when Margaret Kendall, widow of a rich merchant, is wed to Gilbert, the second son of Hubert de Vilers. Formerly in training for the priesthood, the once Brother Gregory is ill-suited for marriage, especially when it includes two small, mischievous step-daughters. To further complicate the marriage, Margaret is blessed with the power of healing, although she tries to conceal it, and burdened with a bad-tempered and jealous brother-in-law, first-born Hugo, heir to Hubert's estate.

The knighted de Vilers charge into France under the local Duke's banner, but their return is tragic, Gilbert (Gregory) assumed dead, Hubert perhaps mortally wounded and Hugo determined to wrest Margaret's fortune from her. Marrying quickly, Hugo has plans to bury Margaret in a convent, but she escapes to London with her children, too quickly to learn of the Duke's offer to give her, and her fortune, shelter. Believing Gilbert is alive, Margaret goes in search of a hidden fortune to purchase her husband's freedom. After much confusion, Margaret discovers that Gilbert's ransom has been bought by a man of evil intent who thrives on twisting the wills of others to his own, determined to break Gilbert rather than release him. An enthusiastic student of alchemy, the Count de St. Medard pursues the same magical clues as Margaret's friends, Bother Malachi and Mother Hilde. Malachi and Hilde are conversant with the spirit world and willing to travel to France with Margaret to retrieve her husband and outwit the evil St. Medard. It is a journey plagued with dangers and betrayal at every turn.

Riley has a talent for tapping into the marrow of 14th century Europe, the intriguing mix of religion, alchemy, knighthood, misbegotten villains and truculent ghosts, an uncanny cast of characters that tumble through the French countryside, accompanied by the ghost of Master Kendall and Margaret's deceased mother-in-law, The Weeping Lady. Easy prey, Margaret is quickly trapped by the evil Count who feasts on little children and damsels in distress. Even after Gilbert's rescue, the party is besieged by difficulties, chased across the mountains by a renegade Archpriest and his murderous band, unable to secure passage home. The harrowing journey is fraught with disaster, the party buoyed only by their stubborn determination to survive the ordeal. This is historical fiction at its best, energetic and utterly consuming. Luan Gaines/2006.

Really - 3.5 stars...

I am a big fan of Judith Merkle Riley, but I believe she has honed her skills on each novel... I have found her later publications far more enjoyable than the early books in the Margaret of Ashbury series. Her books all have the same ingredients: a smart woman whose brains are overlooked on account of her sex, self discovery through late blooming love, a peppering of sassy humor, and a bit of supernatural goings-on to mix things up. The recipe, in my opinion, works far better in sixteenth century Paris (The Oracle Glass & Master of All Desires) than in fourteenth century England.

The roots of the humor and sass that make her later her characters so much fun are found here with Margaret of Ashbury. Margaret is a young woman - quite beautiful, of course - who has supernatural healing powers and who has recently been widowed by her wealthy merchant husband. The corrupt family of Brother Gregory (introduced in A Vision of Light) have their eyes on her gold and thus kidnap her and force her to marry Gregory, who turns out to really be Gilbert. Though the sexual tension between the two was more than palpable in the previous book, the sudden forced nuptials cool things right off. Margaret and her impish girls are unhappy and stuck in the country with Gregory's ogre brother and father. Just as love simmers back to the surface (and into the womb), Gregory/Gilbert goes off to France to chronicle the events for his overlord and his captured by a demented, torturous evil horrible man. Pregnant Margaret must rely on her wiles and those of her old rag-tag friends to find him, save him, defeat evil and restore love.

The story is light and entertaining for the most part, but I found the middle section - the "journey" with her old wily pals - a bit boring. I enjoyed this book more so than "Vision of Light" and hope that "The Water Devil" will improve as well.

I read the first part of this series and loved it, but this one was better! It felt more relaxed. The story was less tear-jerking than the first, but Margaret was just as powerful and emotional as ever. I enjoyed seeing the characters from the first story return to continue with Margaret. I would highly recommend this second novel.