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The Time of Singing

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Misfit
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The Time of Singing

Post by Misfit » Mon May 4th, 2009, 11:38 pm

Well, some seller has listed TTOS at Amazon US for the astronomical price of $35 :eek: :eek: :eek:

Review posted, now off to add to my Listmanias where appropriate :) ;)
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

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Vanessa
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Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
Preferred HF: Any
Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Post by Vanessa » Tue May 5th, 2009, 7:27 am

Wow, Misfit! That is astronomical. The sellers have obviously not heard of The Book Depository!
currently reading: My Books on Goodreads

Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind

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nona
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Post by nona » Sun August 9th, 2009, 1:39 pm

I paid between $30-45 for EC's The Conquest, the Champion and the Winter Mantle however they're all brand new and I was bound and determined to have them.

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ejays17
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Post by ejays17 » Sun January 3rd, 2010, 11:25 am

I've just finished reading this, and wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. I'm not good at writing "proper" reviews (I'm going to make an effort to learn how to this year though), but I enjoyed how i was drawn into the world, and empathised with both Roger and Ida's various trials, especially with Ida having to leave her oldest son.
There were some parts that seemed "real-er" in some ways, and on reading the Author's Note, noticed they were 2 of ones using the information gained from the Akashic Record.
I did want to slap William Longespee for being a snobbish pain though :p . I do think that a strong reaction (either postive or negative) to a character indicates good writing, and he also had his good points to leaven his bad points.
"Logic, my dear Zoe, merely enables one to be wrong with authority." The Doctor, Wheel in Space

SLOC: Solid Lump of Comfort (from the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Sun January 3rd, 2010, 12:31 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]Well, some seller has listed TTOS at Amazon US for the astronomical price of $35 :eek: :eek: :eek:

Review posted, now off to add to my Listmanias where appropriate :) ;) [/quote]

It will be coming to the USA this autumn and a lot cheaper than that, although in pbk - under a different title to fit in with today's marketing ploys. (I know, I know, but what can you do? :( ). Anyway, it's to be titled FOR THE KING'S FAVOR (which very much suits the themes involved in Ida and Roger's story), and Sourcebooks are publishing towards the autumn. Scarlet Lion is out in March, so I guess they'll publish at the 6 month later mark, so September I reckon.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com

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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Sun January 3rd, 2010, 12:42 pm

[quote=""ejays17""]I've just finished reading this, and wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. I'm not good at writing "proper" reviews (I'm going to make an effort to learn how to this year though), but I enjoyed how i was drawn into the world, and empathised with both Roger and Ida's various trials, especially with Ida having to leave her oldest son.
There were some parts that seemed "real-er" in some ways, and on reading the Author's Note, noticed they were 2 of ones using the information gained from the Akashic Record.
I did want to slap William Longespee for being a snobbish pain though :p . I do think that a strong reaction (either postive or negative) to a character indicates good writing, and he also had his good points to leaven his bad points.[/quote]

Thanks ejays17!
I found Longespee very interesting to write - most of his story was gleaned from the Akashic research and is quite strongly continued in the forthcoming To Defy a King where I further explore the divisions between him and Hugh. Having 'met' him - and from the little history tells us of his character, I think he was very aware of his social position. Of being a royal but of being a bastard too, and dependent on the King's goodwill for all he owned. (which was never going to be as much as Hugh was destined to inherit). I think too, he felt he had missed out on being part of a large, country-raised family such as his Bigod half-siblings. He wanted the love and the companionship, but at the same time, it wasn't the same fine stuff as being royal and he wound up being very conflicted. He was brave and courageous. He lived his life writ large, and he was an honourable man's man, but on the downside lay insecurity, jealousy and downright snobbery. If I hadn't already written him as a strong secondary character, I might be tempted to go back and write him a novel of his own. I'm surprised no one has yet tackled him in historical fiction as the main protagonist.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Sun January 3rd, 2010, 1:17 pm

I've just finished reading this, and wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. I'm not good at writing "proper" reviews (I'm going to make an effort to learn how to this year though),
We all started somewhere and trust me it's not like a magic wand. It takes time and practice. I shudder at my earliest ones and ended up taking some down. You could always get yourself a private journal like LJ until you're more comfortable.
I did want to slap William Longespee for being a snobbish pain though
Yep.
I'm surprised no one has yet tackled him in historical fiction as the main protagonist.
He would make a great novel. I really enjoyed his secondary character in Gellis' Roselynde books.
It will be coming to the USA this autumn and a lot cheaper than that, although in pbk - under a different title to fit in with today's marketing ploys.
Argh! I guess we shouldn't complain, at least your books are finally going to be more readily available to the US Market. Beggars can't be chosers ;) :)
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

Ash
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Post by Ash » Sun January 3rd, 2010, 2:58 pm

Ejay, if you haven't already, read The Greatest Knight. There are several scenes in there that are also in TOS, but with a different POV. Rather cool!

I'd always liked Longspree in other books I'd read, but he was an adult, not a child. In this one, I could well understand why he acted as he did (tho also wanted to slap him). I could also see him becoming the adult I've read about before. Curious as to how you will be drawing him, EC! (Defy a King, is that the one coming out in May?)
Last edited by Ash on Sun January 3rd, 2010, 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Sun January 3rd, 2010, 4:02 pm

[quote=""Ash""]Ejay, if you haven't already, read The Greatest Knight. There are several scenes in there that are also in TOS, but with a different POV. Rather cool!

I'd always liked Longspree in other books I'd read, but he was an adult, not a child. In this one, I could well understand why he acted as he did (tho also wanted to slap him). I could also see him becoming the adult I've read about before. Curious as to how you will be drawing him, EC! (Defy a King, is that the one coming out in May?)[/quote]

Yes, Ash. To Defy a King is umm... 6th of May I believe. I hope I've done Longespee justice. He was often his own worst enemy and without giving too much away, there will be times in TDAK when you will want to do more than slap him! But still, I hope I give enough of his character for readers to understand his behaviour, and commend him for the times when he does come good.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com

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Miss Moppet
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Post by Miss Moppet » Mon January 4th, 2010, 9:22 pm

I'm reading this for the Royal Mistress Challenge - just a few chapters in and I have some questions (there'll probably be more as I go along).

It's Henry II's Marshal, John FitzJohn, who escorts Ida to her first private meeting with the King.

1. Is this William Marshal's older brother?
2. The marshals were in charge of the court whores - would they also take some responsibility for the higher-born mistresses like Ida and Rosamund de Clifford?

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