Isolde, Queen of the Western Isle (Tristan and Isolde Novels, Book 1) by Rosalind Miles Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Isolde, Queen of the Western Isle (Tristan and Isolde Novels, Book 1)
Book Review: Fairly good escapism
Summary: 4 Stars
overall, I enjoyed reading this book, although there were moments I was bored and disinterested. Following the travails of the main characters was interesting, but every other chapter was about other minor characters, and they weren't quite as interesting. The author waits 200 pages to let something good happen, so you're kept reading as you wait for the misfortunes to end. By that point, you care enough about the characters and the plot that you're excited to finish. Despite those shortcomings, the book is quite enjoyable, due mainly to an ineresting heroine you learn to love. I like Isolde as a character, and Tristan also, I guess I just got bored by the parts where the story turned to other semi-plots and characters. I enjoyed the religious and mystical aspects immensely. The story creats a believable vision of goddess worship in old ireland that i found just as interesting to learn about as the plot. Historical fiction and irish fantasy lovers alike will enjoy this book as a fun distraction and quick read.Book Review: if you want to read Miles, read "I, Elizabeth," not "Isolde"
Summary: 1 Stars
I found this book to be surprisingly poorly written, especially after reading Miles' "I, Elizabeth," which was much, much better. The characters in "Isolde" were one-dimensional and flat, and the writing just didn't fit together.Book Review: disappointingly predictable
Summary: 2 Stars
This was my first Rosalind Miles book, and I'm not sure there will be a second. I have wanted to read her trilogy on Gwinevere, but I came across this book in a second hand shop, and not being familiar with the story of Tristan and Isolde, I thought this would be a good place to start. I usually do a quick overall browse of a book before I start reading it, and was encouraged by the family tree, cast of character descriptions in the back, back cover summary of the story, and the reading group questions. The cover art was attractive and intriguing, promising a story of strong women. I thought the book would provide a meaty story with a lot of character development and complex character motivations, in short, I expected something more on the level of The Mists of Avalon, a sophisticated, well-told story. Instead, I unfortunately got a "bodice ripper". The story began promisingly enough introducing the characters of Merlin, Isolde, Tristan, and the Queen of Ireland (who for some reason remains nameless), but spiraled down into sophomoric storytelling. The characters of Mark, Andred, Elva, and Dominian were completely two dimentional. They were unconvincingly all bad, unattractive, sneaky, etc. with not one redeeming quality. I don't know too many people who are all good or all evil. They were caricatures and sterotypes. Ironically, oftentimes "evil" characters make for fascinating foils and more realistic interactions with the "good" characters. The side story of Arthur, Lienore etc. I found distracting and irrelevant. Maybe it ties in with the story later. I hope so. Although I understand that Ms. Miles is working within the confines of legend, the story comes off as the typical "they laughed, they cried, they lived happily ever after" motif. I know that legends are not always clear cut, so although I'm not familiar with the story of Tristan and Isolde, I know there must be more to it than the simple beautiful/good people vs. ugly/bad people depicted in the book. I don't want to give up on this writer because I find her material interesting. I only hope that I just happened to hit on one particularly weak book, and that the complexity and compelling storyline I believe must exist in the Tristan and Isolde story will reveal itself in the remainder of the trilogy.Book Review: Maybe it's just me...
Summary: 2 Stars
... but I thought this book was poorly written! Okay, it has a great premise, but that's IT. Seriously, there's hardly ANY character development, and the details aren't very, well, detailed. Okay, I'm only 15, but I've read enough books to know what's good, and what's CRAPPY. When I first read the summary of this book, I thought it would be great. But no, it was not. It was like those cheap books you buy at the grocery store... you know - those dime romances or whatever they're called. So don't waste your money. If you still feel compelled to read it, just check it out from a library.Book Review: Well Known Story Retold
Summary: 3 Stars
The story of star-crossed lovers Tristan and Isolde is widely known; even Wagner wrote an opera based on this love story. Ms. Miles book is light years away from this masterpiece, but of course, we cannot expect everyone to have Wagner's genius!Both Tristan and Isolde are well-developed and likeable characters, but when it comes to the rest, let's call it "supporting cast", you are left wanting for more.
King Mark and the queen, Isolde's mother, are two-dimensional characters, and even the Priest and Andred, King Mark's nephew and heir apparent to the throne of Cornwall, are lame and not the type of villain one loves to hate.
I would have enjoyed less fantasy, and a lot less thinking from the characters.
And then, if there would have been less of: "Oh, Mother, Goddess"