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kathydavie's review
5.0
The Story
Mistress Maeb Langtofte falls in love the moment she sees Stephen de Mortaigne. A golden boy of 19 or 20 who immediately flirts with Maeb until his father, the Earl of Pengraic chances upon them, ordering Stephen to the barge and their meeting with the king. Pengraic lingers but only to inform Maeb that her lack of dowry and influence will not net Stephen. That any mishap will result in her being tossed out the door. Old Pengraic does not want her in his household.
Then a plague breaks out while the household is still at Rosseley Manor. The king has arrived with his men to discuss strategy with the earl and develops a fascination for Mistress Maeb. And Maeb is only half shocked, thanks to Mistress Evelyn's information, when Lord Saint-Valery offers for her hand—for the king only takes his mistresses from the married ladies. Fortunately for Maeb, the plague takes precedence and Pengraic orders the household to his castle in the Marchers with Stephen in charge. And it seems that Stephen is just as fascinated by Maeb as she with him until plague arrives at Pengraic and changes everyone's future. Especially Maeb's.
The Characters
Mistress Maeb Langtofte was orphaned when her father, Sir Godfrey Langtofte, dies shortly after returning from the Holy Land. Not considering how she would live or marry, her father gifts the Templars with everything he owns save for a bit of embroidery. Her only hope for a life outside a nunnery is her mother's cousin, the Countess of Pengraic, Adelie.
Stephen de Mortaigne is the eldest of the Earl of Pengraic's sons.
Raife de Mortaigne, Earl of Pengraic, is a gruff, scary man who has nothing but contempt for Maeb from the moment he meets her. Maeb is surprised to learn he is only in his mid-30s as he seemed so much older when first she met him. He is also one of the greatest nobles in the land and a Marcher Lord with a tremendous castle protecting the border between England and Wales.
Adelie de Mortaigne, Countess of Pengraic, prefers being pregnant to not as it allows her to avoid the marriage bed. This could explain why she has so many children: Stephen; 14-year-old Alice; 11-year-old Emmette; the prankish twins, Ancel and Robert who would be going to the Earl of Summersete's court in a few weeks; 4-year-old Rosamunde; year-old John besides the two who have died previously. A deeply religious woman, she is also practical and kind-hearted. Mistress Yvette is her "most treasured confidante".
Evelyn Kendal is one of the countess' handmaidens and becomes a great friend to Maeb. Until she betrays her so vilely. Father Owain is the priest at Pengraic Castle who also befriends Maeb. It seems the good father also has a toe in the Old Ones as well.
Edmond, King of England, who has a reputation for the ladies and a cautious approach to the earl. Ranulph Saint-Valery is the king's poet, willing to do aught for his lord, including wedding Mistress Maeb that the king might take her as his mistress.
My Take
A fascinating and incredibly sad story with a lovely ending in a medieval age in England. Yes, it is another look at how the gentry lived, traveled, and played politics and, yet, there is such a realness to this historical-fantasy. Partly because the fantastical aspects are not the highlights but more like the bits that allow for a tremendous romance to be told in a hopeful daydream.
Place names were oddly spelled compared to their names today. It was rather fun matching then to now.
I had the most difficult time putting this book down…thank god it was Sunday so I didn't have to!
The Cover
The cover makes absolutely no sense. Again, a cover artist who hasn't a clue about the story. The title, The Devil's Diadem, takes a very long time to appear within the story but eventually we do learn in a twisty sort of way that the diadem is the entire point.
Mistress Maeb Langtofte falls in love the moment she sees Stephen de Mortaigne. A golden boy of 19 or 20 who immediately flirts with Maeb until his father, the Earl of Pengraic chances upon them, ordering Stephen to the barge and their meeting with the king. Pengraic lingers but only to inform Maeb that her lack of dowry and influence will not net Stephen. That any mishap will result in her being tossed out the door. Old Pengraic does not want her in his household.
Then a plague breaks out while the household is still at Rosseley Manor. The king has arrived with his men to discuss strategy with the earl and develops a fascination for Mistress Maeb. And Maeb is only half shocked, thanks to Mistress Evelyn's information, when Lord Saint-Valery offers for her hand—for the king only takes his mistresses from the married ladies. Fortunately for Maeb, the plague takes precedence and Pengraic orders the household to his castle in the Marchers with Stephen in charge. And it seems that Stephen is just as fascinated by Maeb as she with him until plague arrives at Pengraic and changes everyone's future. Especially Maeb's.
The Characters
Mistress Maeb Langtofte was orphaned when her father, Sir Godfrey Langtofte, dies shortly after returning from the Holy Land. Not considering how she would live or marry, her father gifts the Templars with everything he owns save for a bit of embroidery. Her only hope for a life outside a nunnery is her mother's cousin, the Countess of Pengraic, Adelie.
Stephen de Mortaigne is the eldest of the Earl of Pengraic's sons.
Raife de Mortaigne, Earl of Pengraic, is a gruff, scary man who has nothing but contempt for Maeb from the moment he meets her. Maeb is surprised to learn he is only in his mid-30s as he seemed so much older when first she met him. He is also one of the greatest nobles in the land and a Marcher Lord with a tremendous castle protecting the border between England and Wales.
Adelie de Mortaigne, Countess of Pengraic, prefers being pregnant to not as it allows her to avoid the marriage bed. This could explain why she has so many children: Stephen; 14-year-old Alice; 11-year-old Emmette; the prankish twins, Ancel and Robert who would be going to the Earl of Summersete's court in a few weeks; 4-year-old Rosamunde; year-old John besides the two who have died previously. A deeply religious woman, she is also practical and kind-hearted. Mistress Yvette is her "most treasured confidante".
Evelyn Kendal is one of the countess' handmaidens and becomes a great friend to Maeb. Until she betrays her so vilely. Father Owain is the priest at Pengraic Castle who also befriends Maeb. It seems the good father also has a toe in the Old Ones as well.
Edmond, King of England, who has a reputation for the ladies and a cautious approach to the earl. Ranulph Saint-Valery is the king's poet, willing to do aught for his lord, including wedding Mistress Maeb that the king might take her as his mistress.
My Take
A fascinating and incredibly sad story with a lovely ending in a medieval age in England. Yes, it is another look at how the gentry lived, traveled, and played politics and, yet, there is such a realness to this historical-fantasy. Partly because the fantastical aspects are not the highlights but more like the bits that allow for a tremendous romance to be told in a hopeful daydream.
Place names were oddly spelled compared to their names today. It was rather fun matching then to now.
I had the most difficult time putting this book down…thank god it was Sunday so I didn't have to!
The Cover
The cover makes absolutely no sense. Again, a cover artist who hasn't a clue about the story. The title, The Devil's Diadem, takes a very long time to appear within the story but eventually we do learn in a twisty sort of way that the diadem is the entire point.
crayondall's review
5.0
When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it or if I'd be willing to read through 500 pages. Fortunately, it was a very slow day at the library and there was nothing else immediately grabbing my attention to read.
I loved reading this book and quickly became emotionally invested in all of the characters and couldn't help wondering how a resolution could happen in such a short time. It did and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it, after the slightly slower first few chapters. I believe my hesitancy was related to the complete lack of knowledge as to what the book might be about.
The characters were outstanding. While I didn't always love them or agree with them, I found several of them frustrating on occasion, by the end, I just wanted to spend more time with them.
All in all, it was excellent and I'm glad I took the journey with Maeb, Stephen, Raefe and Edmond.
I loved reading this book and quickly became emotionally invested in all of the characters and couldn't help wondering how a resolution could happen in such a short time. It did and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it, after the slightly slower first few chapters. I believe my hesitancy was related to the complete lack of knowledge as to what the book might be about.
The characters were outstanding. While I didn't always love them or agree with them, I found several of them frustrating on occasion, by the end, I just wanted to spend more time with them.
All in all, it was excellent and I'm glad I took the journey with Maeb, Stephen, Raefe and Edmond.
winterreader40's review against another edition
5.0
We follow Maeb as she relates the story of her life on her death bed, from when she becomes a member of the countess of Pengraic's household after her father dies leaving her nothing but his name right up till what happens after her death(as related by another).
When a very specific, very strange(end game being you spontaneously combust or die of fright) plague starts causing the death of virtually everyone in it's path, they travel to the Welsh marshes to try to escape it's wrath but it follows them. Maeb's mother's bloodline, who was one of the Old Ones (the Sidhe) protects her, even though she doesn't understand why. She becomes the new Countess after the plague passes. The plague is searching for the devil's diadem, it was stolen from him and he wants it back.
The true identity of the Earl and what several of the other characters become was amazing.
I love Sara Douglass's world and character building and I'm kinda sad that this is one of the last if not the last time I'll get to read one of her stories for the first time.
When a very specific, very strange(end game being you spontaneously combust or die of fright) plague starts causing the death of virtually everyone in it's path, they travel to the Welsh marshes to try to escape it's wrath but it follows them. Maeb's mother's bloodline, who was one of the Old Ones (the Sidhe) protects her, even though she doesn't understand why. She becomes the new Countess after the plague passes. The plague is searching for the devil's diadem, it was stolen from him and he wants it back.
The true identity of the Earl and what several of the other characters become was amazing.
I love Sara Douglass's world and character building and I'm kinda sad that this is one of the last if not the last time I'll get to read one of her stories for the first time.
ganitsirk's review against another edition
5.0
I want to write a wonderful, glowing review for this book but nothing could do it justice. It's beautiful and enthralling and amazing and I am crestfallen that it's over.
firerosearien's review against another edition
4.0
This book starts pretty slow, but then when it picks up it does so in a Game of Thrones-esque manner (okay it's not *quite* as graphic, but there are still a LOT of dead people)
The main character is a bit mary sue-ish, but the surrounding plot is well crafted, and even though the novel is explicitly a historical fantasy se in a pseudo 12th-century England, the author clearly had a good understanding of both 12th century history and politics.
The first part of the book is likely going to make you want to stop reading it, so I might even suggest just starting with part two - I found the payoff to be worth it.
The main character is a bit mary sue-ish, but the surrounding plot is well crafted, and even though the novel is explicitly a historical fantasy se in a pseudo 12th-century England, the author clearly had a good understanding of both 12th century history and politics.
The first part of the book is likely going to make you want to stop reading it, so I might even suggest just starting with part two - I found the payoff to be worth it.
davidlz1's review against another edition
2.0
Not a book I would have picked up nor is it a book I would whole heartedly recommend. The story was not bad but it was much longer than necessary. The author is masterful at surprising the reader but there was just too much extraneous material. I hear her other works are more impressive so I will reserve complete judgment until I have sampled another one of her novels. Though I dare not hazard a guess as to when that will be....
bearlienktc's review against another edition
4.0
The story took a few chapters to get in to. At first I thought it was just going to be a pedestrian historical novel set in a slightly altered world. But the pace and characters began to draw me in and the story revealed itself as more and more surprising and interesting as the chapters followed along. Definitely a story worth picking up to see if you get as pulled in as I was. I'd love to read more about Hugh, a character only briefly met toward the end of the tale.