This novel seems to be a romance by trade--only with a lot more historical background and plot than most romance novels that you run into. Susan Carroll writes a nice historical tale leading up to Bloody Sunday (murder of a considerable number of Huguenots by the French Catholics). She creates a strong female character in Ariane, and an equal to her heroine in Justice Comte de Renard. She also speculates quite a bit about the nature of Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen of France.
Background: Ariane is lady of the Fair Isle. She is a wise woman (aka a witch to those with no manners). This is a dangerous thing to be at this particular time in history due to witch hunters, being burned at the stake is not a pleasant experience. Ariane's father has gone sailing off on some sort of adventure and has been gone months with no word. Her mother, the previous lady of the isle, has recently passed away and Ariane does not feel up to filling her mother's shoes. Her sister's, Gabrielle, virtue was stolen by Knight who was a supposed to be a friend of cousin. She was damaged emotionally by the experience. It caused her to lose her magic and her art (she was a lovely painter) and has never regained them. Ariane knows no way to help her. Her youngest sister Miri, talks to animals and seems at one with nature. But she has these horrible premonition dreams which give her fear of sleep, and again Ariane knows no way to help her or change the event portrayed in her dreams. Her father has left the girls extremely indebted to outfit his adventure. Plus the Comte de Renard seems intent on marrying Ariane, and she cannot be rid of him.
Plot: There is two weaves of plotline. The first is the romance between Justice the Comte de Renard and Ariane. The second is the goings on in France leading to Bloody Sunday. After first trying to bully Ariane into marriage, which doesn't work, Justice makes Ariane a deal. He gives her one of a pair of rings. The ring allows Ariane to call Justice should she need him. He will come to help her with the condition after she uses the ring three times she will marry him. Due to the events surrounding Bloody Sunday, Ariane finds the need to call upon Justice--will he get his bride? You will have to read to find out.
The second line of plot involves the events leading to Bloody Sunday. Remy, knight of Navarre--called the The Scourge due to his ability in battle, watches his queen poisoned by a pair of gloves given to her by the Dark Queen of France, Catherine de Medici. He takes the gloves hoping to prove what the queen has done to save his prince from marrying Catherine's daughter. Catherine is reported to be a wise woman who has fallen to the dark arts, so Remy takes the gloves to a wise woman, Ariane, hoping she can figure out what poison was used. Catherine's guard wounds poor Remy, so that he barely reaches the Isle. Ariane hides him in her hidden workroom while he heals and she tries to figure out the poison. Catherine knows Remy has escaped and has the gloves--she even knows where he went. She begins to wage war on Ariane by sending witch hunters to the isle to destroy the community of wise women there. Will Ariane be able to save her people and defeat the Dark Queen?--nope not going to tell you. You will just have to pick this one up and give it a read.
I really enjoyed this novel. Carroll writes a good plotted romance. She gives us some history without us being bogged down in it. I also love the incorporation of magic into the novel (which is really why I picked it up in the first place). It added flavor to the novel without making the plot silly or taking away from it.
Her main characters are well-rounded--not flat karotypes. Ariane remains a strong character that doesn't become totally dependant on Justice. We watch her flounder a bit in the beginning as she tries to fill her mother's shoes, but she comes into her own by the end of the novel. Each of her sisters has their own personality as well--as well as Remy. Remy is the classic noble knight devoted to his king, but he finds Gabrielle to be a distraction.
It was an easy plotline to follow, and well written. It kept me interested throughout the whole novel. If you like a good historically based romance then this book will not disappoint.