The Thorn and the Blossom

2012/82pgs

About the Book: When Evelyn Morgan walked into the small village bookstore, she didn't know she was about to meet the love of her life. Brendan Thorne and Evelyn spend the week they have together and Brendan shares the story The Green Knight, a legend about star-crossed lovers. Are Evelyn and Brendan to have the same fate as those in the story? And is the story more than legend?

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: This book has a very unique packaging which is what sold me on the book in the first place. The book has an accordion style to it, which allows you to read one side of the story, then turn it over and read the other. You can choose which one to start with (I started with Evelyn) and you find yourself reading an almost circular story. The format is pretty cool, although I will say it was a bit hard to hold because of the binding and accordion style. Also, at one point I dropped the book and it fluttered down with all the pages flopping out and I had to stack them back up-the hazards of having an accordion book format I guess! As for the story, it was just OK.

I liked it, but it's very short and I wanted more. A lot if left up to the readers to put together and I found myself wanting just a bit more detail and depth to the story. The characters are both interested, even obsessed, with the tale of The Green Knight and it's this story that brings them together and also has echoes of their own love story. In many ways, the book is a modern retelling of a legend and although nothing is ever really told to the readers, there are many hints to put things together that this is true. It's an interesting concept and the story kept me reading. I think readers who enjoy fables and legends would like this one-I would suggest it for older teens and adults since for much of the story Brendan and Evelyn are older adults teaching college and it's more adult lit than YA.

I'm not sure if libraries would be able to carry it because of the format, but it would make a great book for the friend who claims they can't find anything to read!

A Personal Devil: A Magdalene la Batarde Mystery

by Roberta Gellis, 324 pages

I took an elevator ride with Roberta Gellis some years ago and asked her if she was finished with the Roselynde Chronicles, her historical romance series. She said she was, because the main characters were getting to an age where she would have to start killing them off! She said she was going to write some fantasy and dabble in a few other genres.

A month or so ago I came across the first title in her medieval mystery series, which was called A Mortal Bane. I just finished this title and intend to read all of the series.

I enjoyed the well-drawn sleuth characters of Magdalene and Sir Bellamy of Itchen. A medieval scholar, Ms Gellis creates an authentic world for her characters to move through. Ms Gellis has made an interesting choice for her protagonist, since Magdalene is the proprietess of a house of ill-repute. Ironically called The Old Priory Guesthouse, Magdalene's house fills a niche in 12th century London, a place where gentlemen can enjoy female company in complete privacy. I won't spoil the story by telling you why Magdalene's establishment is unique, but because it is so, the female characters in the novels have more freedom than most women of the day.

By turns intriguing, funny and thoughtful, the books in this series will satisfy readers in the historical mystery genre.