Judith Tarr

LCW · Post by **LCW** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 5:31 pm

Has anyone read anything by her? I'm reading Queen of Swords right now and it's set in Outremer and focues on the life of the Princess Melisende and Richilis, who is one of her friends and waiting women. Usually I'm not a huge fan of stories set in Outremer but I'm loving this one. The story is great and the writing is gorgeous!!

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 8:29 pm

The only thing I have read was a joint effort with Harry Turtledove and it was really bad! One day I hope to be able to try her standalone work.

annis · Post by **annis** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 12:43 am

She writes a mix of HF and fantasy. "Queen of Swords" is very good, but I found "Throne of Isis", her novel about Cleopatra, disappointing. Margaret George's "Memoirs of Cleopatra" or Martha Rofheart's "The Alexandian" are both much better if you want a Cleo novel.
I would try other JT novels, though, if i came across them.
"Pillar of Fire" (Ancient Egypt) and "Eagle's Daughter" (10th century Court of Holy Roman Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophano in Saxony) both sound interesting.

Kasthu · Post by **Kasthu** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 2:50 am

I read Pillar of Fire about ten years ago, at a time when my family and I were on vacation in Egypt--great book in a great setting! I also read another one of her ancient Egyptian novels at that time, but I can't for the life of me remember which one!

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 4:10 am

I loved Queen of Swords, its the first novel I remember reading about the Holy Land during the Crusades. I tried a few of her other books and didn't care for them.

princess garnet · Post by **princess garnet** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 7:43 pm

She's also written a fantasy trilogy under the pseudoymn Kathleen Bryan. I've read The Serpent and the Rose and The Golden Rose. The final book comes out this year.

She has a website but it hasn't been updated.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 10:18 pm

[quote=""Ash""]I loved Queen of Swords, its the first novel I remember reading about the Holy Land during the Crusades. I tried a few of her other books and didn't care for them.[/quote]

That's the same reaction I had Ash. Queen of Swords is in my hall of fame, but I've not been able to get on quite so well with other books. I think maybe because QOS is a straight historical and the others have rather strange fantasy elements.

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Fri January 16th, 2009, 2:01 am

QOS sounds very interesting. I think I'll give it a shot via Amazon. After I read Cecelia Holland's Jerusalem a while ago, I started surfing for more info on the Norman and other ruling Outremer families. Melisende caught my attention, so thanks for the heads up.

nona · Post by **nona** » Fri January 16th, 2009, 1:49 pm

I have her triology on my bookshelf to read White Mares Daughter, Lady of the Horse and Daughter of Lir unfortunately I have not read these as of yet hopefully by the end of the year I'll have them read.

4ever Queen · Post by **4ever Queen** » Tue October 13th, 2009, 7:04 pm

[quote=""EC2""]That's the same reaction I had Ash. Queen of Swords is in my hall of fame, but I've not been able to get on quite so well with other books. I think maybe because QOS is a straight historical and the others have rather strange fantasy elements.[/quote]

I know, i know, this is a very old post but I was just too happy to have found my Queen of Swords copy in my TBR pile!

Specially after finishing EC2-The Falcons of Montabard which was my 1st book introduction to Outremer and the Jerusalem Kingdom. Now I can enlighten myself with another good book (QOS)