The Sword and the Swan

Good story, silly romance. The setting and the characterization are excellent - it's a very rich story, with the politics and battles of the end of Stephen's reign as background and drivers for the action. The romance, however, is heavily dependent on the trope of misunderstandings - bigger than

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the usual, since it's literally matters of life and death, loyalty and duty that they misunderstand each other about, but still misunderstandings. Why is he so cold? Because first he thinks she's a rebel and is afraid she might convince him against his oaths to turn to Henry; later, he hopes that she will do so, leaving him behind because he will endanger her and his children. Why does she lie to him? More or less the same - she believes he will be so bound by duty and loyalty that he will refuse to take reasonable action to protect himself and his. Sheesh. She's righter than he is, but they're both silly. And I don't care, it's a great story and one I'll reread. Also, this is a prequel to the Roselynde books - Rannulf (as it's spelled here) and Catherine are - I think Alinor's grandparents? So now I need to read at least the first couple books there, to link this in to the story I already know.

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