In a 1300s European romance story, Princess Elyce is distressed to learn her marriage has been arranged by her father, King Leandre of Montciel, to Rodrigo, the nephew of the neighbouring King Claude of Valkenfeld. She will need the VEIL OF WINTER to escape.
Using a potion to put her in a deep sleep for days, Elyce hopes people will think she is dead and her loyal servants will spirit her away. No such luck. In a strand-like Sleeping Beauty, a knight of England, Sir Gerard Dericott, arrives in Montciel with his companion in arms, Sir Oswalt, to help her. Gerard has a sister, Delia, who received a letter from her friend Elyce, explaining that the proposed marriage was to enable King Claude to enslave the shepherding folks of her mountain land and put them to work in dangerous mines. Gerard prayed about it and believed that he was shown a sign to travel to Montciel.
Having woken the sleeping princess, the two knights quickly make off with her and a servant woman, Ysabeau, hoping to reach Prague to beg King Wenceslaus for an army. This more powerful man is the Holy Roman Emperor, and technically the smaller kingdoms, dukedoms and principalities of Germany and France should obey him. But winter makes fools of generals, especially with mountains to cross and long bad roadways to follow. Chances are he won’t lift a finger.
The third book in the DericottTale series is quite complicated, with a series of towns, kingdoms and lords to remember. This is a YA story so the romance is chaste, but there’s a lot of violence. This is a coming-of-age story, about a rebellion looking for a leader. I enjoy medieval tales, and this is the kind of countryside and castle and royal family that inspired the seminal Grimm’s fairytales. A few larger-than-life characters, bitter weather and brave horses fill the pages. I love the cover.
Melanie Dickerson has written VEIL OF WINTER with attention to the Christian tradition. If you think of Robin Hood, you’ll remember the clergy were a major part of political as well as social life. The peasants knew their place, and the clergy were the only ones promising anything better. But they don’t want life to get worse, as it might under King Claude. I had a good time unravelling all the duplicity and watching the action. Princess Elyce starts out acting quite spoiled and young but quickly grows into a formidable woman. I’ll be looking for more in the series.
In the mountains near France, the medieval Princess Elyse is being forced to marry, thus forming an alliance that will enrich her father but enslave her kingdom. Instead, she chooses to feign her death and flee to Prague to beg King Wenceslaus to help save her people.
In England, the young knight Sir Gerard has a vision from God instructing him to help Elyse on her quest. When he arrives to find she has been near death for days, he manages to revive her. However, thinking the stranger was trying to kiss her, the princess immediately distrusts him. But her desperate situation forces her to accept his aid.
Pursued by her enemy’s guards over mountainous terrain, they must also battle the deadly winter elements. Her greatest challenge may be to overcome the voices of disapproval and accusation from her childhood. Will her emotions lead her into her true identity, or will they undermine her ability to work with Gerard and to save her people, who desperately need her help?
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