Heart Of Ice (2007)

About book Heart Of Ice (2007)

First Sentence: In the port of Boulogne, the enemy lay hidden.A sick man travels to take the healing waters of Hawkenlye Abby but is murdered and thrown into the pond which turns to ice. When the monks discovered his body, it is also discovered he carried apothecary herbs. While Sir Josse d’Acquin, at the request of the Abbess, searches for the young man’s identity and murderer, more sick arrive at the Abbey. The plague has come to Hawkenlye and the only help may come from Joanna of the Forest People and the powers of the old religion.Despite my normal distain for prologues, this one was fascinating and a compelling lead into the story. And this was, for me, a story that had highs and lows.Among the highs was Clare’s description of how the plague traveled from Africa to England. I felt that was exceptionally well done. She also conveyed the limitations of medical knowledge, described care given during the period, although I suspect the Abbey was more advanced in their practices than common; and the devastating impact of a contagion. I return to Clare’s series for the characters as well. Helewise and Josse are central to the story and the respect and non-spoken, non-physical love between the two characters is beautifully drawn. However, Clare doesn’t leave the rest of the characters standing in the shadows; she brings them forward, fully-drawn and important so that we are affected when things happen to them.While I enjoy an element of the paranormal and appreciated learning what had happened to Joanna, Josse’s former love and mother of his child, the time spent with her did, for me, slow the pace of the story and take me away from my main interest. But that’s just me. I very much enjoyed the book. Clare always manages to touch me emotionally and draw me back into this world. I am delighted to have many more books ahead of me in this series. HEART OF ICE (Hist Mys-Abbess Helewise/Josse d’Acquin-England-1194) – G+Clare, Alys – 9th in seriesHodder & Stoughton, ©2006, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0340831162

c2006. Much more mystical than the previous books. I have preferred the previous books and this seemed somewhat laboured. At least we now have it in black and white that Josse loves Helewise. The story line is good, the characters grow in dimension but ..... I don't know why this didn't gel with me this time. I love fantasy so the Celtic mystery bit should be right up my alley - but it just did not gel with me this time. Perhaps the 9th book was just too much of an effort? Alys Clare is a pseudo

Write Review

Review will shown on site after approval.

Send(Review will shown on site after approval)

Other books by author Alys Clare

Other books in series hawkenlye mysteries

Other books in category Fiction