The Queen's Man ~ Sharon Kay Penman

1st Book of the Justin de Quincy Series

New author for me and I am pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story. This is the first book in a series that begins in 1192 with the main character Justin de Quincy who grew up as an orphan and was taught by a high ranking bishop who paid for his education, housing etc. During his search for his mother he discovers the bishop is his father.

Justin sets out to find his fate in the world, when he stumbles upon an ambush where he witnesses a murder. As the goldsmith lies dying he ask Justin to deliver a message to Queen Eleanor. Once he delivers the letter the Queen becomes worried her son King Richard the Lionheart has been missing for a couple of months and her youngest son John is plotting to take over the throne.

Queen Eleanor is impressed with Justin and asks him to identify the killer(s). He gladly accepts the task. Justin returns to the town of the goldsmith to begin his investigation, here he discovers some interesting characters. Who can he really trust?

The book is well written nice quick read, very little romance, nice plot and some twists. I am looking forward to reading the remaining 3 books in the series

~Melanie's List~

I am going for *Royalty* the books I plan to read (or have read)
1. The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman (9/17/08)
2. Cruel As the Grave by Sharon Kay Penman (10/14/08)
3. Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman (11/30/08)
4. Prince of Darkness by Sharon Kay Penman
5. The Falcons of Montabard or A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick
6. Undecided

Great challenge.

HERSELF by Fay Sampson

This is the last book in the series - Daughter of Tintagel

I have to confess to skipping through the pages.
Disappointed in the way this last tale unfolded as it was excerpts from the old history tales, interwoven into the story (as told by Morgan).
Lost the gist of the story line and it seemed to be a rehash of parts from the previous books.
I wonder whether my disappointment stems from the tales we have been fed over the years about Arthur and Merlyn, and also Morgan, which fantasised and glorified these namesakes.

Alex's List

I completely forgot to post my list here but I already started the challenge.:)

After many hesitations I decided to go for Royalty:

- Maid Marian by Elsa Watson
- Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
- Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick
- Company of Liars by Karen Maitland
- Life in a Medieval Castle by Joseph and Frances Gies
- The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

Thanks for organizing this challenge!

House of Shadows (Medieval Murderers Group 3) by The Medieval Murderers

House of Shadows (Medieval Murderers Group 3) by The Medieval Murderers

Amazon UK synopsis:
'Bermondsey Priory, 1114. A young chaplain succumbs to the temptations of the flesh - and suffers a gruesome punishment. From that moment, the monastery is cursed and over the next five hundred years murder and treachery abound within its hallowed walls. A beautiful young bride found dead two days before her wedding. A ghostly figure that warns of impending doom. A plot to deposes King Edward II. Mad monks and errant priests ...even the poet Chaucer finds himself drawn into the dark deeds and violent death which pervade this unhappy place. '

5 Medieval mystery stories, between 1114 and 1163, set in the mysterious Bermonsey Priory on the outskirts of London.
Writers Susanna Gregory, Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, and Philip Gooden, each spin a tale centring on the abbey and the curse that is said to haunt it.
At the end the true nature of the curse is revealed.

A good selection of mystery stories, the book also gives you a taste of each writers styles.

TALIESIN'S TELLING by Fay Sampson

this is Book 4 of the Daughter of Tintagel series.

Taliesin is appointed as Chief Bard to King Urien - Morgan's husband, and he is captured in her spell, like many other people.
This story brings out even more, the bitter conflict between Morgan and Arthur, and all is not as it seems in the marriage of Arthur and Gwenhyvar.
The narration of the tale is by Taliesin, and I am finding this method a bit disjointed at times.
You would need to read the other stories in sequence to be able to determine how each of the players fit into the overall story.

Relics by Pip Vaughan-Hughes

Relics by Pip Vaughan-Hughes

Set in the 13th Century, the novel centres around the main character Brother Petroc, a novice monk from Balcester. Unwittingly he is duped into stealing a relic and is framed for a murder he doesn't commit, ending up on the run from the authorities and the real murderer.
Fleeing for his life he runs to his former mentor a Brother librarian who directs him to the the enigmatic Captain de Montalhac and his crew of pirates, who sail him away from immanent danger.
The novel then spins a tale of relic hunters, conspiracies and a Greek princess.......

Although this novel has had good reviews I was disappointed with it.
It started off well but once it got aboard ship and the princess was introduced it became a little too fanciful for me.