Keeper of the Crystal Spring

Rating:
Summary: Rich detail and a lot of fun
Review: I read the whole book in 5 days. 5 work days that is...I didn't have a lot of time to spend reading but I made time! Yes, there is a lot of historical detail in this book, but I find that gives it more spice. I found the plot somewhat see-through, but I cared enough about the characters to still not be able to put the book down! I only wish the authors had more books for me to read! Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but too predictable
Review: The book sucked me in right away with the story of how Aldyth had come to live with her guardian, Sirona. After this interesting twist to Aldyth's life, the story begins to show how life was in the year 1086, by comparing the relationships she has with the son of Lord Ralf, Gandulf and an outlaw named Bedwyn. After this point in the book, the plot and resolution become quite apparent within the first one hundred pages, when Bedwyn and Gandulf start to compete over the love of Aldyth. The scene where Bedwyn and Gandulf jump over the raging fire to prove their love for Aldyth was idiotic and just showed how the book at this point is more interested in the sexual relationships between the three than getting an actual plot across to the audience.
Although this is a love story, there was no reason for having the two sex scenes in the book. I found it distasteful and made the book go off on a tangent instead of sticking to one of its original intentions, informing the audience of what life was like in the eleventh century.
After reading the book all the way through, my predictions for the end of the book were right on the spot. Its happy ending was so foreseen that after the end I found that it was not necessary to read after page one hundred and fifty because by then you get the main gist of the story and already know what is going to happen.
Its slow pace and predictability made it painful to read for more than a half and hour at a time. It is obvious that the authors of the book made an effort to research what England was like at this time and integrated it very well. The problem was the writing style. In my opinion, save your money and read something more exciting.