I knew almost nothing about the period in which this book is set (England, 1192), but Elizabeth Ashworth brought it very vividly to life in this, her first novel. From the sharp cold of the Lancashire winters to the warmth and bustle of the life village and castle; from the superstition and the primitive medicine, with its talk of humours and punishments from God, to the richness of Christmas feasting - all of it felt real enough to see and taste and smell.
I loved Johanna FitzEustace. She is portrayed as a feisty and strong-willed girl on the brink of womanhood, attractively engaging to a modern audience without ever crossing over the line into anachronistically modern behaviour or attitudes. I enjoyed the sweet, slightly naive development of the romance between the two young protagonists, and the poignant way that it is set against Richard FitzEustace's earlier, lost love.
All the characters are well rounded and real - from the ruthless Roger FitzEustace and the machiavellian Dean of Wallei to the kind and gentle Geoffrey, with whom it's very easy to fall in love. This is a great story, well told, with pace and drama as well as painstaking attention to historical detail. Highly recommended.
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