The White Raven

This is a re-telling of the Tristan and Iseult legend, here with the names of Drustan and Esseilt. I was not very familiar with it, but this book didn't make me want to know more. It was told from Esseilt's cousin, Branwen, point of view (in the 1st person), but it was about Esseilt herself.

I felt distanced from the romantic pair, but to tell the truth, I was not very intrigued by them either. Esseilt was only a spoilt child, who never seemed to realize that Branwen was an actual person with feelings. One other aspect that I didn't like (but that is not really the author's fault, it's part of the lore) is that Drustan and Esseilt's love is due to a love potion. This robbed me of my favourite part in any romance novel: the falling in love part. One moment she was trying to kill him, the other she was deeply in love with him, and falling into bed with him. Also, much of the misery and angst could have been avoided had the characters talked (I mean, really talked) among themselves.

I wish there was more to Branwen's story, it had potential. There were hints of a story there, between her and the king, with mystical elements (in short, what I really like).

It was an ok book, that could have been so much better if it wasn't so focused on Drustan and Esseilt's story.

Also at Spoilers and Nuts ( )

I was really enjoying this book until about page 280 or so when the author suddenly felt it necessary to include a "rape her till she likes it" scene. ( )

This book offers a very interesting view of the tragic romance of Tristan and Iseult(here called Drustan and Esseilte). It is told through the eyes of Branwen, Esseilte's cousin, who aids Esseilte and Drustan in their affair. At the same time Branwen falls in love with King Marc'h, Esseilte's scorned husband. It is a tragic tale told from an interesting perspective and even though you know how it ends, you still keep reading to see what happens next. ( )

This book has been on my "to read" list for years. I finally got around to reading it and even though it was difficult to get into, I ended up liking it. It is the story of Tristan and Iseult and their star-crossed love. ( )

niecly done retelling of tristan an disolde in the tradition of marion zimmer bradley's retelling of the legend of king arthur. has a bit too much revisionism for my tastes, jsut as does Mists, but if you like one, you'll like the other. ( )