The Laird
Grade : B-

I had pretty high hopes as I got going with this one. Though Medieval Scotland has been done almost to death in the last few years, there was a darker, sadder tone in this one that immediately grabbed my attention and drew me in. My hopes were justified, but unfortunately, not altogether fulfilled. Ms. Garnett can definitely write, but her plotting techniques could use a bit of tweaking.

A cold March fog enshrouds the muddy bailey of Lochawe Keep as Robert Campbell of Glenlyon tries desperately to stop his father and seven men from riding out on a foolhardy mission - one that will almost certainly get them all killed. Rob's despair and frustration is palpable and the mood is set from the first sentences of the book.

Death waited just beyond the keep. It crouched in the black hills and in the devil's own mist that shrouded trees and marsh beyond the safety of Lochawe's walls.

No cheery Garwood castle with apple-cheeked servants to be found here. Once the tone has been set, Garnett stays with it. There are no easy answers in this world she's creating and the outcome of the first few scenes is part and parcel of that fact. Campbells have always sworn allegiance to the Earl of Argyll and Rob's father, Angus, returns to Lochawe with two hostages at the Earl's behest. Mairi is the child destined to be the bride of the Earl of Argyll's young son. Accompanying her, much against Angus' wishes, is Judith Lindsey.

Judith is an English woman who'd had a marriage to Mairi's Scottish uncle arranged for her by her father. When Kenneth Lindsey died, Judith was left to fend for herself in his family's household. She has no money of her own, is considered to be barren, and her father has never made an effort to get her back. In essence, since the death of her husband, she has belonged nowhere and her only solace has been the raising of Mairi. Even being taken hostage to Lochawe is preferable to losing the child. She still doesn't belong, but she doesn't see that as anything new, just something else to deal with.

Rob and Judith fall for each other in spite of themselves. Their very genuine attraction is a problem rather than a blessing, and they must work through emotional minefields to even reach the point of admitting the attraction. That aspect of the book works wonderfully. I liked how this couple dealt with each other. Rob is strong and generally not all that talkative, but he manages to convey how he feels nevertheless. Judith is as pragmatic as they come, but pragmatism can only go so far when love is involved.

What didn't work wonderfully is the exterior challenges thrown in this couple's path. Pacing and the length of the novel are part of the problem. There just isn't enough book to effectively deal with all aspects of the plot. Another part of the problem is some unevenness in characterization. Angus' feelings are realistically portrayed for a good part of the book but he ends on a far more positive note then I could accept. And Rob's actions in relation to Argyll make little sense. He has what is needed to resolve his external problems throughout the book, yet only puts it to use when it's almost too late. It was action tacked on to create conflict - where none was needed.

The emotional connection between Judith and Rob is the true draw here. The back of the book describes this as an English woman having problems being in love with a Scottish man. That's simplistic and misleading. The challenges they face are far more complex and difficult than that, and I applaud the author for not "writing down" to the reader. Had she spent less time with the trappings of those other myriad Scottish Medievals, this would have been an unqualified success.

Reviewed by Jane Jorgenson
Grade : B-

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : October 11, 2002

Publication Date: 2002

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