The Marsh King's Daughter

Rating:
Summary: THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER ROCKS!
Review: Another excellent medieval historical from Elizabeth Chadwick! Her books never disappoint the reader. This is the sixth novel I've read by this author and it is one of her best yet!

This story involves the lives of Miriel Weaver and Nicholas de Caen. Miriel is physically and verbally abused by her stepfather continually until he decides against her will to dump her in a nunnery. She eventually escapes with the help of Nicholas whom she had nursed back to health in the convent infirmary. He had been a prisoner with King John's baggage train in 1216 carrying all the royal regalia until the fatal tide and quicksand ends everyone's life but his own. He then takes a chest unknowingly containing a fortune in silver and Queen Matthilda's crown.

Literally down the road, Miriel parts Nicholas' company with some of the silver and Queen Mathilda's crown. He finds this out and becomes enraged and vows to one day get revenge. However, for much of the story they live out different lives with different people until they fatefully meet again.

I loved the detail and descriptions particularily concerning the wool trade, especially the manufacturing of the different types of wool fabrics and colors. This book had me turning pages until 2 a.m. anticipating what would happen next. A very exciting read!

Rating:
Summary: THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER ROCKS!
Review: Another excellent medieval historical from Elizabeth Chadwick! Her books never disappoint the reader. This is the sixth novel I've read by this author and it is one of her best yet!

This story involves the lives of Miriel Weaver and Nicholas de Caen. Miriel is physically and verbally abused by her stepfather continually until he decides against her will to dump her in a nunnery. She eventually escapes with the help of Nicholas whom she had nursed back to health in the convent infirmary. He had been a prisoner with King John's baggage train in 1216 carrying all the royal regalia until the fatal tide and quicksand ends everyone's life but his own. He then takes a chest unknowingly containing a fortune in silver and Queen Matthilda's crown.

Literally down the road, Miriel parts Nicholas' company with some of the silver and Queen Mathilda's crown. He finds this out and becomes enraged and vows to one day get revenge. However, for much of the story they live out different lives with different people until they fatefully meet again.

I loved the detail and descriptions particularily concerning the wool trade, especially the manufacturing of the different types of wool fabrics and colors. This book had me turning pages until 2 a.m. anticipating what would happen next. A very exciting read!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastically, Pageturningly, Addictive
Review: Elizabeth Chadwick has excelled again, I absolutely loved reading this book, from start to finish it was such an enjoyable read. Set in the year of the civil war of 1216 Miriel finds, herself forced into a convent by her violent, evil stepfather. As Miriel tries to escape, her plan comes to stop as she find's a soldier, Nicholas de Caen, half dead, she helps him recover and so when he is too leave she decides she will follow him, they then part on bad terms, and little does Miriel know that one day she may meet him again. If you love medieval, historical romance you should not miss out on reading this book!

Rating:
Summary: Best Blended Historical Fiction With Romance Genre
Review: English author Chadwick is the only author I can think of who manages to blend historical fiction with historical romance seamlessly from start to finish. I liked this novel better than her prior one, "The Love Knot", because this one gets to the story's central conflicts faster. Set in medieval times, like all of Chadwick's novels, Miriel and Nicholas are the lead characters, brought together when she nurses him to health in the convent where she is a novitiate. Miriel escapes from the convent and follows Nicholas, only to steal part of the treasure he recovered in the marsh so she can make a new life for herself. This sets the stage for a very rich tapestry of medieval life to unfold, which has a full complement of characters including various people to whom Miriel and Nicholas are married. The central villain is Miriel's second husband, Robert, whose evil acts as a wealthy merchant were common in this time period. Nicholas and Miriel come together and apart throughout the novel. For those readers who don't like lead character separations, this might be a problem but it was not one for me. If you like this novel, also read Chadwick's "The Conquest" and "Daughters Of The Grail," other five star novels by her.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Fascinating characters, and a real feel for the period of history make this book unforgettable. I was completely captivated by Nicholas and Miriel, and found the villain (no names here!) spine-tinglingly nasty. An abosrobing read-I wish all historical novels were as good as this one.

Rating:
Summary: superb recreation of Medieval life
Review: I am beginning to wonder if me and reviewer Crystal Oats have been reading the same book. I was totally captivated by the characters in The Marsh King's Daughter. Meriel is a strong heroine who has to make some difficult choices and I found her personality intriguing and sympathetic. There was plenty of dialogue between her and the hero, and the love triangle was beautifully and sensitively handled. The Marsh King's Daughter has been on the historical fiction bestseller list in the UK and has had accolades from such doyennes of the genre as Roberta Gellis.

Rating:
Summary: Not as wonderful as Love Knot, but still enjoyable!
Review: I recently plowed through Chadwick's The Love Knot and eagerly picked up The Marsh King's Daughter next. The romance was fulfilling, but I found the plot to be slow going. I think fans of historical fiction will really get into the vivid descriptions of England in the 1200s, but if you're looking for a quickly paced historical romance, go back to The Love Knot. Overall enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: In pure "Chadwick" style!
Review: If you've ever wondered what it was like to live in the Medieval times in England you have only to open the cover of any book written by Elizabeth Chadwick. In true "Chadwick style", "The Marsh King's Daughter" tells the tale of love denied and human suppression, and the ultimate triumphs of love and personal accomplishment. I believe that Ms Chadwick's best known tale, "First Knight", only lit the way in the path of her success. Each of the books that have followed has only brightened the path in which she is heading. "The Marsh King's Daughter" is no exception yet at the same time exceptional.

Chadwick transcends the genre with this extraordinary story. This is not a traditional romance but a well thought out, exhaustively researched and intensely involved literary masterpiece. Chadwick concocts believable characters and puts them in a thoroughly observable setting, gives them historical and fictional obstacles that bring them around to as perfect a climax as could be written. The title of the book, "The Marsh King's Daughter" is brilliantly tied in through an analogy of one of Aesop's Fables of the same name. The marsh where King John's treasure is lost essentially brands him the King of the Marsh. Miriel, the daughter of an environment she is born into, exemplifies the suppression from some of the men in her life and her struggle to escape.

I searched high and low in this book to try to find something that was off, something that didn't quite click. I came away with only one thing that I feel very strongly about. It is that this book is just not long enough! Even at just over 400 pages and as gloriously complex as it is, the pages of this book fairly flew through my fingers. As I read "the end" on the last page I couldn't help but scream, "I want more!" Whether you're a long time fan of Elizabeth Chadwick's work, or a first time reader, you'll be screaming the same thing at the end.

~ Kemberlee, reviewing for CompuServe Romance Reviews Charter Member of RIO (Reviewers' International Organization) Copyrighted 2000

Rating:
Summary: Great medieval tale
Review: In 1216 England, Nigel Fuller roughs his stepdaughter Miriel Weaver for her disobedience and disrespect. Wanting her out of his life, he dispatches Miriel to live in the St. Catherine's-in-the-Marsh nunnery.

Nicholas de Caen is a prisoner due to King John's false accusations of treason. The monarch destroyed Nicholas' family before branding him a traitor to the crown.

Nicholas escapes and finds refugee at St. Catherine's. Later he helps Miriel run away from her unhappy captivity among the Sisters. Although Miriel and Nicholas are attracted to one another, they depart on bad terms. She trusts no male and he is a wanted soldier of fortune with no name or future. Over the next few years, aristocratic roadblocks continue to insure no relationship forms between them.

THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER is an entertaining medieval romance that highlights the abuse of power that dictates much of the early thirteenth century noble lifestyle. Miriel is a brave woman, but her gender leaves her a victim as men make decisions that she dislikes for her. Nicholas is also impotent to help because he too is a casualty of the monarchy. Fans who enjoy an insiders look at a bygone era will gain immense pleasure from Elizabeth Chadwick's wonderful historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Great read but....
Review: The Marsh King's Daughter was a great read, earns its 4 stars. I admired the Miriel character - unforgettable. Unfortunately, that's not what I think of the love of her life, Nicholas. I think that Robert, at some level, in some ways, suit her better (aside from fact that he's a selfish lover... but what medieval husband isn't?). He protects her and appreciates her strength, spirit and intelligence. In fact, the most poignant self-declaration of love for Miriel was by Robert. If only Robert wasn't made to be that cruel to Miriel, but then again, it's only b'cos he really loved her, in his own way. Nicholas, did not deserve Miriel, no matter how much she loved him. Nicholas truly deserved the whore (Magdalene) that he married. I find it unbelievable that he couldn't find any more worthy women (well, put it down to his noble nature, but it's more a reflection of his weakness and lack of imagination) to marry. I wished Miriel had found someone else other than Nicholas (a better male protagonist is Sabin, of the Falcons of Montabard, which is a better book). Magdalene, what can I say... I was cheering during her death scene. Put her out of her misery. She had it so easy so far... sounds callous, but glad she died. Summary : great book 'cos of Miriel and even Robert (he provided the true passions in the story). Wonderful piece of writing. Thanks Ms Chadwick.