White Rose
R. Garcia Y Robertson
ISBN: 0-312-86994-0
A Forge Book
384 pages
4 roses
Robyn is eating a cucumber sandwich with friends when she is zapped into the 15th century. It seems Robyn has been there before and was the love of Edward, Earl of March, in a previous book "Knight Errant" and this saga continues the story. Lady Robyn is also a witch and has friends who are witches and warlocks. Somehow Robyn's assistant in Hollywood, Heidi, is also hurled into the past and joins Robyn. Heidi appears to be bi-sexual, amoral, and neither women appear to be or have been too particular with whom they bed either in the present or back in the good old days of Mediaeval England. Robyn is years older than teenage Edward, who also has younger brothers George and Richard, so Edward must be the man who becomes England's monarch, Edward IV in 1461, the year this story begins. Robyn is known as Edward's whore and she is carrying his child, at least she thinks the child is Edward's. Edward loves Robyn, plans to marry her despite his parents' disapproval, doesn't care that she is a witch and even believes she is from the future. After all she manages to bring her cigarette lighter and instant coffee with her when traveling between the centuries.
The people of 1461 consider her odd since she believes in bathing and washing her hands between baths. Robyn finds knights who protect her and others who wish her dead. She is often in the midst of battles and begins to think of herself as a Joan of Arc fighting for right. Right being Edward winning whatever battle he is in. She is often fleeing for her life and hopes Edward will come to her rescue.
This story comes to no conclusions so I assume that R. Garcia Y. Robertson has more in store for his characters. There are too many characters, a lot of them get killed off after being introduced in the story, and too much action in this convoluted adventure. Perhaps, if I had read the first book, I might feel differently.
I am a fan of Sharon Kay Penman, who has multi-characters and plots within the tapestry of her historicals and I am able to follow them without confusion. Anya Seton was able to convincingly set a story in two different centuries, and Susan Howatch did a beautiful job of combining history with a more modern setting, but I believe Robertson fails, mainly because of too much of everything, witches, wars, horny Mediaeval characters and not skillfully treating his main characters Edward and Robyn with the time they deserve, especially Edward. The reader never fully can see why Robyn loves him enough to give up her modern life. She does have a choice. Still, the book is a fun read, and I believe someone who likes to read chick-lit will enjoy White Rose.
Jaye Dee Tyrack, Reviewer, gottawritenetwork.com
December, 2005
