For My Lady's Heart

Author:

Laura Kinsale

Published:

Berkley Books, December 1993 ; 421 pages

Subgenre:

Historical romance -- Medieval

Setting:

France and England, 1350s

Main characters:

Sir Ruadrik of Wolfscar and Melanthe, Princess of Monteverde

Sexual explicitness:

Fairly explicit

Keywords:

Intrigue ; falconry, heiresses, murder, pilgrimages, religious fanaticism, secret marriages

Reader rating:

Reader comments:

I loved this book! I fell in love with Ruck, and I even liked Allegretto, or at least sympathized with him, at the end. The medieval English was great, it was hardly noticeable after awhile. I love to see a sequel, Ms. Kinsale! (J.H., 3-14-98) I love Laura Kinsale's books, and this one is no exception. The Middle English added flavor and mood, I enjoyed the political and court intrigue, and the heroine and the danger of her situation rang true. However, I was disappointed with the ending. Because Ms. Kinsale did such an excellent job characterizing the villain by foreshadowing the danger his arrival posed, I expected a major conflagration at the climax. When the villain drowns after being pushed in the lake by a minor character, I felt cheated. I still feel that Flowers From the Storm, or The Shadow and the Star are her best books (and Fabio had nothing to do with it). (K.P., 4-25-97) I have been a L. Kinsale fan ever since I read Flowers From the Storm. This book however was a major waste of ink. I couldn't like the characters, especially the heroine and I found the story to be boring. If one expects the quality of writing displayed in Flowers, try Uncertain Magic. While it is not as good as Flowers From the Storm, it has a charm all it's own. (S.T., 4-4-97) Gone W/Wind, move over! This one is a classic. The beauty of the prose and old poetry, the extent of the research, and the sophistication of the plot and characters, was incredible. All other romances including Kinsale's Dreamhunter and Folly pale before it (except Flowers). I hope the mixed reviews will not discourage Kinsale producing another like it. (D.V., 3-29-97) The first half of this book was beautiful, on par with Mists of Avalon, rich, a virtual feast. It thinned in the second half, becoming more of a traditional romance, losing some of it's luster. If the second half would have lived up to the first, this book would have risen easily into my all time top ten, but still a really wonderful read. (L.K., 2-3-97) Kinsale took risks with this book--middle English dialect, difficult to care about heroine, rather goofy hero. That she made it all work so beautifully is typical of the quality of her writing. By the end I loved them both and the dialect, too! This romance is a cut above the pack. (M.B., 1-21-97) Having read Flowers from the Storm a few yrs ago, I thought a book by that author would be a great stocking stuffer for my daughter who is quite a romance reader. When I asked her how it was, she just said "it was ok". Well, I tried to read it and must admit I really could not get into it, and I disliked the Old English. Fortunately I did not give up on the author because I have since read others by her and must say a couple of them are my all time favorites, and will read everything she writes because no one writes a more moving, deeply felt story than Kinsale, I just did not care for this one. (G.A., 12-28-96) I have long been a Kinsale fan, and found this to be her most powerful and moving story yet, although definitely not for the faint -at-heart reader. Her use of old english keeps you on your toes, but creates the illusion that you are living in the book. Her concept of honor above all is the essence of romance. One of hte very best! (K.S., 11-24-96) Great characters (brilliant, brave heroine; loyal, strong yet tender-hearted hero), a complex storyline, intriguing character development, lovely statisying ending, typical Kinsale. Old English dialogue makes for some tough going, but worth the effort. A wonderfully fresh read. (K.G., 10-22-96) I'm reading For My Lady's Heart now, Laura Kinsale is by far my most favourite historical romance writer...I've read all her books, and her heroes and heroines have all become my friends, they sit on my never to be given or sold away shelf! (S.R., 10-3-96) Because "Flowers from the Storm" is one of my Top Ten Keepers- I keep trying to read this book! No matter what I do, I fall asleep about 4 chapters in. I even tried skipping to read the last chapters to see if that would give me the incentive to go back and do the whole book, but it was a no go! What a MAJOR disappointment! (J.K., 10-2-96) Very well written, very well researched; but while I enjoyed the Middle English and found scenes between the two main characters highly readable, there was too much religious frenzy (as with Ruck's first wife) and Byzantine plotting for my tastes. In fact, the medieval period itself is not very much to my taste--irrational, violent, filled with religious fanaticism and superstition--so the more realistic the medieval setting portrayed, the less I'm likely to enjoy a book set in that period. (I only read books set in medieval times when they are written by an author I really like, such as Kinsale.) (E.P., 6-12-96) I am passionately enamored of Laura Kinsale novels! She takes romance novels to a whole new level. I have never read any romance novels with more depth and complexity than Kinsale's. Her work can truly move me to tears. I loved her use of old English; it made the story more credible and powerful. (J.K., 6-12-96) No writer measures up against Laura Kinsale. No medieval measures up against For My Lady's Heart. Brilliant writer! Brilliant work! (B.C., 4-2-96) I loved the characters -- the Princess who was forced to be calculating to live, falling in love with the straightforward honorable knight was terrific. The Medieval English was easy to read after the first paragraph and added depth to the novel. Going from this wonderful book to _DreamHunter_ was a *severe* shock. I would like to see more novels like _For My Lady's Heart_ from Kinsale. (S.L., 3-30-96) The heroine was so cold! I could not see what he saw in her, and didn't understand how anyone could love someone who is so cruel. Yes, I know she had reasons for it, but he didn't know them so just loved her for her cruelty, I guess. Yuck!! I was really disappointed by Kinsale who is normally such a gifted character writer. (A.J., 3-15-96) Absolutely wonderful -- one of those few shining stars of brilliance that I'm always searching for. Not to be melodramatic, but this book really restored my faith in the romance genre. The historical detail was stunning in its beauty and intricacy and the characters were marvelous. I fell in love with Ruck and Allegretto too. Please, Laura Kinsale, write another one just like it! (X.M.U., 3-12-96) Wonderful characters--both Melanthe and Ruck had believable frailties as well as admirable qualities. The information on falconry was very interesting, I found the Old English not only challenging but educational, and the love scene was neither too precipitous nor gory in detail--just beautifully romantic, as every romance should be! Any chance of a sequel with Allegreto? At first I hated him (though loved to hate him is probably more accurate), but by the end was rooting for him. Howe wonderful he and the tortured Ruck were! Thanks for a great read. (S.S., 3-1-96) The romance part of the plot is simple enough, the Byzantine intrigue in which the romance is set is unusually detailed for this genre. The characters almost lift this book out of the genre: Allegretto, the hopelessly romantic assassin; Ruck, tortured by his confessors with explicit questions regarding the sins he hasn't committed. The hysterical religious outbursts of Ruck's wife were chillingly true-to-life. (E.A., 2-14-96) Sorry, I'm just not a good enough reader to wade through all that old English dialect. I am sorry because I am a big Laura Kinsale fan and I'm sure the plot is good, but gosh, it just was too much work for my poor ole gray matter. (C.B., 2-10-96) Kinsale is an extraordinarily gifted writer - her prose is beautiful, her psychology fascinating. For My Lady's Heart is one of her masterpieces. The use of Middle English was ingenious. (M.M., 12-11-95) A wonderful book. I especially enjoyed the old English. I felt it put you right there with the characters. Ms. Kinsale always makes her characters so real, you feel you know them. (J.H., 11-20-95) The history was fascinating: I generally don't read medievals, but this one had a lot to keep my interest. The characters were great ; I wanted to read more about Alegretto. I'd really like to see her write a sequel w/ him as the hero. It says a lot for Laura Kinsale that I read this book last summer and I still remember the plot. (J.R., 11-19-95) Great Love Story, loved the old English! (A.S., 11-9-95) Laura Kinsale always delivers. I thought the middle english was especially good. (K.L., 10-25-95) Intelligent, literate, doesn't play down to the reader, and yet delivers everything you expect from a romance. (J.M., 10-5-95) One of the best Medievals I have ever read. (K.G., 8-8-95) Ms. Kinsale continues to entertain in a truly romantic form with richly detailed characters and story lines in For My Lady's Heart. A good read although it was not what I expected after reading Flowers from the Storm. (R.T., 8-7-95) I absolutely LOVED this book! I felt Ms. Kinsale did a masterful job of incorporating the Old English into her story, and I wish I could write half as well, then I would be published in fiction! (S.S-C., 8-6-95) A WONDERFUL!! Medieval. I enjoyed it and have indeed passed it along to several friends who have all commented favorably on it. (G.H., 8-4-95) Interesting but not altogether successful attempt to reverse the traditional characteristics of the male/female roles in the romance genre. (L.F., 7-1-95) Rich, complex, compelling. Stayed up all night to read it, then turned around and began again. Not a quick read ; the middle english is a little slow going, although I thought it added a lot to the story. (M.A., 6-19-95)

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