The Spanish Pearl
By Editor Alexandra Wolfe
Title: THE SPANISH PEARL
Author: Catherine Friend
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
ISBN: 1-933110-76-7
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Romance/Adventure
When Kate Vincent and her partner travel to Spain, Kate is accidentally transported back in time…way back in time…to 1085. What does a woman like Kate do in a world of no antibiotics, no feminism, no Diet Coke? She denies it as long as possible, then sets her mind to getting home. Tricky with her now useless twenty-first century skills.
Things don’t go well. Kate is captured by a band of mercenary soldiers and becomes an unwitting pawn in the violent conflict between the Catholic kings and the Islamic Moors. In her struggle to stay alive and return to the future, Kate must flee exotic harems, filthy dungeons, and treacherous Moorish courts. But when a sword-brandishing woman with an astonishing secret sweeps into Kate’s life, Kate is suddenly torn between two women, and between two centuries.
The Spanish Pearl is not just a good read, it’s a great read. I think this is the first book, whether lesbian or mainstream, that I have ever given a 4.5 star rating too.
Catherine Friend is not only a skilled and talented writer, but a wonderful story-teller of a high caliber. With The Spanish Pearl she has crafted an engrousing thoroughly enjoyable story that pulls you in from page one, and then? Never lets go till a very end, which, in my case, was just after 4 am this morning.
It is, however, the journey she takes not only Kate on, but us, as readers. Weaving several threads of the lives, loves, courage and friendship of the many faceted characters who populate Spanish Pearl, making us believe we are there (almost able to reach out and touch these all too real characters). We are caught amid the layers and depth of unfolding drama, as seen through the eyes of Kate, a woman who is suddenly faced with a number of decisions, dilemmas and obstacles to overcome.
This historically well researched and superbly plotted story is rich with detail and colour bringing 11c Spain to life. Making us live and yes, breath in the everyday smells of life, as it was, for those living in this era.
It takes a sharp mind, talent and skill as a story-teller to bring off such a wonderfully written and credible story, all of which I believe Catherine Friend has in abundance.
REVIEWED BY ALEXANDRA WOLFE
Kissed By Venus is a web site for the discussion and promotion of lesbian literature. We publish lesbian fiction, articles, book reviews, and interviews.
