"A sweetly told tale with all the elegance of high fantasy"
Thomas is a young man on the verge of manhood, more skilled
in the ways of the sword than in the ways of a woman. Lady
Evelyn, his betrothed and several years his senior, is a
woman of mystery in more ways than one: Thomas has never
met her. When he does, on the eve of their wedding, the
attraction between the two of them is instantaneous. Of course, he has no idea the woman he's met—and who has
just rescued him from a kidnapping-- is Lady Evelyn. He
thinks her name is Lupa and she's a forest mercenary, sort
of a Lady Robin Hood. So begins Janet Miller's novel, LADY OF THE KNIFE, a
fantasy tale that at times reads like 'Robin Hood', at
times like 'Man of La Mancha', at times like 'Zorro'
(complete with a villain named Diablo), and at times
like 'Camelot'. Intermixed with those themes are Miller's
customs of her fantasy world, where, in spite of the
medieval type setting, women and men are equal.
Additionally, men are betrothed ('sold' to Thomas' initial
way of thinking), and marriages are contracted for a two-
year span, solely for the purpose of breeding an heir
(women still do that job, however). Concurrent to the story of Thomas and Evelyn, and their
happy marriage and bliss over their impending parenthood,
is the more tempestuous story of Thomas' older sister,
Emma, and the man who loves her in secret, Martin. Emma's a
plucky, plump midwife, attending to Evelyn as the birth of
the child draws near. Martin is a friend and advisor to
Lady Evelyn. Emma will have little to do with Martin --
with
any man, and for good reason -- until the very pregnant
Lady
Evelyn is kidnapped and Martin, Emma and Thomas must set
off to rescue her. However, Lady Evelyn—imprisoned and having labor
contractions-- has plans of her own. LADY OF THE KNIFE is a sweetly told tale with all the
elegance of high fantasy, and all the derring-do of a
swashbuckler, topped off a dose of humor. Thomas and Evelyn
are innocence contrasted with experience; Martin and Emma
are steadfast loyalty contrasted with self-doubt. Many
readers of both fantasy romance and futuristic romance will
enjoy Miller's plucky female characters and interesting
world concept in this tale of adventure and love. Reviewed for PNR Reviews by
Linnea
Sinclair
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted August 14, 2002
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"In faraway Alanadon, so long ago
many mythic tales were told.
Of a brother and sister who found their own loves,
Though not as they were dreaming of.
Of evil ones that preyed upon the weak,
Of a lady warrior far from meek.
And of those who would protect with their life,
the Lady who carried another's knife."
A tale of two couples, 'Lady of the Knife' is set in the
mythical Kingdom of Alanadon. Lady Evelyn needs a child to
keep her estate and picks young Thomas to be the father.
Martin, her best friend, has his own ideas of what he
wants, namely Thomas's sister, Emma. But evildoers have
kidnapped the Lady along with her unborn child. Martin,
Emma, and Thomas must ride to her rescue, using every
talent they have to discover her location. Will they be
able to find her? Will they rescue her before the child is
born? And, will Martin finally get Emma's attention?
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