Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

Richard de Lacey is a crusader with an injured arm – an injury that limits his ability to wield a sword and ends his dreams of helping to liberate Jerusalem. But Richard’s dreams don’t die easily and he figures that if he can’t fight he can help in another way – helping to develop an improved breed of war horse than will trample the infidel into the ground. Such a dream takes more money than Richard has but he manages to convince the Templars to help him. Unknown to Richard, the Templars are prepared to sacrifice him if the political situation becomes too dicey.

Joanna de Cantelo is the only child of a minor baron. Spoiled, stubborn and educated she has her father wrapped firmly around her finger and loves the horses that are bred on the manner. Allowed more freedom than is probably proper, nothing in her life has prepared her for the battle she will soon face.

William Catface is a poor man who works on the Cantelo manor. Struggling to feed his family, he is always on the lookout for ways that might improve his situation and isn’t above poaching the king’s deer in order to eat. He’s rough around the edges but with a conscience buried deep under the grime.

Richard, Joanna and William’s lives are woven together in this well told story set during the reign of King John. The key to Richard’s success lies with a large war horse named Soloriens who belongs to Hugh de Lusignan but is currently housed as a “guest” by the king. When Joanna’s father dies, she is placed in the king’s wardship and her manor taken over for its rich pastureland. Treated with disrespect by the men now in charge, Joanna feels a certain kinship with the great horse that is now lodged in her stable and will risk everything in an effort to save them both.

With an interesting cast  of characters and writing full of the sights and sounds of the English countryside, I enjoyed this quite a bit.  Even though this isn't an action packed adventure, the plot moves along at a pretty good pace as Richard finds he has competition not only for Soloriens and as Joanna tries to find a way to save her manor.  I'm looking forward to reading Whittock’s other fiction books - Dice in Flight (set during the Peasant’s Revolt) and Moon in the Morning (14th century merchants in the Baltics).   All were published in the mid-1990s.



In case the FTC asks: Bought it used