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The Crown Rose by Fiona Avery
01/07/2005 . Source: Sue Davies 
pub: Prometheus Books. 460 page hardback. Price: $25.00 (US). ISBN: 1-59102-312-2. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.pyrsf.com
At first glance, this is a historical romance. It is the story of genuine royalty and with some real historical figures salted in for veracity.
The year is 1240, Louis IX is King of France and Isabelle is his sister and a princess of the royal line of France. Despite losing their father at an early age, the royal line has been protected and advanced. Blanche, the Queen Mother, is aided by the mysterious three sisters who form the Order of the Rose.
These gentlewomen took the Royal family under their wing. Isabelle has Neci as her nursemaid and her early experiences lead her to trust in her judgement. As a young child, Isabelle is saved from a fierce and evil-looking dog by a mysterious man who she sees with Neci but when questioned, denies his existence.
As a royal princess, Isabelle is expected to fall in with the dynastic plans of her mother. She is introduced to Conrad, a German prince, but despite a respectful friendship they mutually decide that marriage is not for them. Isabelle feels that her place will be with the church and has a strong desire for learning.
When Isabelle settles on a plan to establish a convent in order to help the poor women of the streets, she has found her life's purpose.
When Jean Adaret Benariel comes into her life, there are forces are at work in France to cause a great war and choices made will affect everyone's future. Jean forges an enduring friendship with Louis and also with Isabelle and she determines to find out who this mysterious stranger is.
Essentially, a romance built around a familiar and popular myth there is a sprinkling of the supernatural in this intriguing story. Occasional anachronisms in phrasing including the very modern 'keeping tabs on' do jar and should have been weeded out at the editing stage. These aside there is also the tendency to sprinkle the text with unnecessary French vocabulary, which although handy for revision for exam purposes is sometimes annoying. I get the fact it is set in France and don't need reminding with the odd 'oui' scattered in the text.
Without those hot-weather niggles aside, it's a fun read and see how far into you get before spotting a similar theme to a huge modern cryptic novel still riding high in the best-seller charts.
Sue Davies
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