Rating: 
Summary: ** AWARD WINNING HISTORICAL NOVEL, ACCURATELY RESEARCHED**
Review: GREAT NEW AUTHOR
This book is absolutely fantastic, and the award bestowed on it (the Rita award for 'Best First Novel 2000' from Romance Writers of America) comes as no surprise. The author has woven a perfect blend of characters and history to portray a very convincing version of 15th Century England and France.
The well-researched historical background enhances the story - which flows effortlessly - without overwhelming it.
I found all the characters interesting and well constructed, and the two main characters were enchanting. The antics of Richard Huddleston's deerhound adds humour to the story.
From someone who has read 100's of historical novels, this book ranks in my Top 3, and I'm looking forward to reading the author's second book 'The Knight and The Rose' - also an award winner.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an intelligently written, witty, and well researched historical (romance) novel.
A definite 'must-read' for all historical romance readers.
Rating:
Summary: the great 'Maiden and the Unicorn'
Review: I just loved this book. I've read hundreds of historical romances and this was one that kept me sitting in an ice-cold bath for five hours because I couldn't bear to put it down (which I had to do if I was going to get out of the bath!). The main characters are really charismatic and move convincingly against the historical background, which somehow manages to achieve the feat of being detailed without overwhelming the love story. I am really looking forward to reading this writer's next novel, 'The Knight and the Rose', which looks like it will be another great story. For an intelligent novel that is also warm, witty and passionate, I would recommend 'The Maiden and the Unicorn' to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't wait for her next book!
Review: I quite enjoyed this story. I read it some 10 months ago so can't really give a great review on the ins and outs of the story however, Isolde puts great detail into the historic accuracy and you can tell that there has been a lot of research put into the book. The characters are well written in both the Maiden and the Unicorn and her other book (my favorite) The Knight and the Rose.
Rating:
Summary: The Maiden and The Unicorn - an exceptional read
Review: I read this book in one evening and then read it again the next day. I found that Martyn not only focussed on the two main characters but the surroundings and other characters. As a result, a rich tapestry was woven as the story continued.Martyn managed to obscure Richards actions just enough, so that I started to doubt whether my initial assessment was correct. This book is an exceptional read and I believe it was a good introduction to historical romance.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm of two minds about this book
Review: I'm having difficulty rating this book. On the one hand, it's well-written, well plotted and well researched. On the other hand, reading it was a terribly vexing experience for me. If you like alpha heros who treat the heroine like dirt throughout the entire book and then she falls in love with him anyway, this is the book for you. I am not one of those who enjoy that type of story. The author really gives you a feel for the time period, although it's too heavy on the political maneuvers of the time (especially near the end). In spite of heaviness of the uninteresting political part of the plot, this would have been a wonderful read for me, except I kept rooting for the heroine to go join a convent than stay with her complete jerk of a husband.
Rating:
Summary: I'm of two minds about this book
Review: I'm having difficulty rating this book. On the one hand, it's well-written, well plotted and well researched. On the other hand, reading it was a terribly vexing experience for me. If you like alpha heros who treat the heroine like dirt throughout the entire book and then she falls in love with him anyway, this is the book for you. I am not one of those who enjoy that type of story. The author really gives you a feel for the time period, although it's too heavy on the political maneuvers of the time (especially near the end). In spite of heaviness of the uninteresting political part of the plot, this would have been a wonderful read for me, except I kept rooting for the heroine to go join a convent than stay with her complete jerk of a husband.
Rating:
Summary: A TOTALLY ENJOYABLE BOOK AND A MARVELOUS READ.
Review: Put very simply, I found this book totally enchanting and enjoyable and a marvelous read. It was no surprise that Isolde Martyn won this year's award in Australia for the Historical Romance Novel of the Year. Being a lover of English history, I found Martyn's historical accuracy of the period well researched, and no shortcuts were taken, a failing I find of so many authors of historical romance. On the romantic side of the story, who could fail to fall in love with Richard Huddleston, as I did within the first few pages, and Margery's adventures were a joy! It's a wonderful story, engrossing and entertaining, and I can heartily recommend this book to lovers of historical romance. I now look forward, with great anticipation, to Isolde Martyn's second novel.
Rating:
Summary: A MARVELOUS READ, WELL RESEARCHED AND TOTALLY ENTERTAINING.
Review: Put very simply, I found this book totally enchanting and enjoyable and a marvelous read. It was no surprise that Isolde Martyn won this year's award in Australia for the Historical Romance of the Year. Being a lover of English history, I found Martyn's historical accuracy of the period well researched, and no shortcuts were taken, a failing I find of so many authors of historical romance. On the romantic side of the story, who could fail to fall in love with Richard Huddleston, as I did within the first few pages, and Margery's adventures were a joy! It's a wonderful story, engrossing and entertaining, and I can heartily recommend this book to lovers of historical romance. I now look forward, with great anticipation, to Isolde Martyn's second novel.
Rating:
Summary: Martyn Magic
Review: The Maiden and The Unicorn is one of the best crafted romance novels I have read. The language is rich and pulls you right into the feel of the period. Isolde Martyn truly deserves the accolades garnered for this book. She keeps the magic woven through every page drawing you into the intrigue of those turbulent and dangerous times of 15th century English and European politics. Her characters are real, they keep within the world they inhabit and that agains helps to keep the spell she weaves going. I read this book in one sitting until four in the morning, savouring each word and the usage of language. Isolde brings Romance writing to the next level of literary standards.
Rating:
Summary: ** AWARD WINNING HISTORICAL NOVEL, ACCURATELY RESEARCHED**
Review: This book was absolutely horrible. It had nothing to do at all with the premise outlined in the back of the book. It was maybe mentioned for about two or three pages at the beginning of the book an alluded towards the end of book as an after-thought. This book really is about two people fighting with each other, making horrible, hateful slurs on each other's reputation, who all the sudden look at each other and decide that they are in love. Please! Don't waste your money on this book. I wish I hadn't.
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