It is obvious the author did a ton of research for this novel. She intertwines historical figures in to make them and the story more real. I must admit, I cried through the last couple of chapters.

Wow... this book is very well written, but the subject matter is just too darn depressing! Late 14th century England... Lots of church involvement.

Kept my interest. Depressing end!

It is England, in the late 14th century, a time when the old feudal order is starting to crack, but the whim of a lord or the pleasure of a bishop still has the power to seal nearly anyone's fate. Books are rare and costly, painstakingly lettered by hand and illuminated with exquisite paintings. For Lady Kathryn of Blackingham Manor, a widow and mother trying to safeguard her holdings without the dubious protection of her late husband, it is a time made both sweeter and more perilous by the arrival of a master illuminator called Finn. Caught between the King's taxes and the church's tithes, Kathryn strikes a bargain with the local abbot: she will take Finn and his pretty young daughter into her household in exchange for the monastery's protection. Finn is working not only on approved church texts, but secretly--and dangerously--on a forbidden English translation of the Bible. As the hesitant friendship between Kathryn and Finn grows into a passionate alliance, wonderful new storyteller Brenda Rickman Vantrease brings us a glorious novel of love, treachery, faith, and redemption on the eve of the Renaissance.

While this book had some common themes for historical fiction of this era, it also had enough unique elements to make it more interesting. A widow is asked by the bishop to house an artisan who illuminates manuscripts and his young daughter. This is not a fluffy romance -- political and religious issues, social uprisings, illness and death are all present, but the heroine is strong and independent, leading to a surprising finish. Recommended.

This is a well-written book, with a regular tapestry of a 14th century background and carefully drawn characters. It's also a bit more realistic than I thought it would be, and considerably less upbeat, but well worth reading.

A tragic story of loves and lives lost during a little known era in English history when the peasants revolted and the Church went to war to put down the rebellion. A very good book for those interested in medieval history.

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This books writing was very well done. I thought the history was wonerful. There are detailed crude scenes in this book.

Well Written

I loved this book. I thought it was very interesting and I could not put it down. I was only disappointed in the end..... It left me wanting more!! I would read it again!

I enjoyed this historical fiction. It was a good read and interesting story.

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