"Beautiful romance"
In I428, Eva MacArthur, guardian of Innisfarna, agrees
to marry Green Colin Campbell, an advisor to the King. Her
long time friend Lachlann MacKerron is unhappy though he
knows a blacksmith like him is not good enough for the
daughter of a clan chief. Lachlann leaves for France to
fight in the war. Colin arrives while Eva's father and
older brother visit the King. He informs Eva that the King
killed her father, imprisoned her brother, and outlawed
Clan MacArthur. He tells her to marry him and give him
Innisfarna and he will try to gain a pardon. She tells him
she cannot because she is the female defender of the isle
and the legend states that if a woman fails to act as the
isle's protector, Scotland is in trouble. He leaves for
France as ambassador. In 1431, Lachlann returns home only to learn that
Innisfarna is now a fortress. Also returning to Innisfarna
to claim everything including his proxy bride Eva is
Colin. Eva knows she must fight him using the sword of
the "French Maiden" out of respect for the legends of
cherished Scotland. The third book in Susan King's medieval Maiden series
(see THE SWAN MAIDEN and THE STONE MAIDEN for the previous
two novels) is an exciting fifteenth century romance. The
story line uses references to Joan of Arc, a legend of
Scotland, and faerie magic in special swords to enhance a
beautiful love story between two star-crossed individuals.
THE SWORD MAIDEN proves that historical tidbits can easily
embellish a powerful story line when the author has the
talent of Susan King. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted September 13, 2001
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