Bitten by Books
Although Kitt was nearly eighteen, she had known no other life than traveling the countryside with her older brothers, performing acrobatic tricks for food and a place to stay. She was disguised as a boy, for the brothers feared there might be difficulties if someone found out Kitt was female. Recently, the brothers had been conferring over whether or not to confess to Kitt the circumstances of her birth, but a chance encounter with a wounded knight offered the three travelers the opportunity for safety and security. Kitt’s bravery in nursing the injured Ruttger and her brothers’ courage is assisting his escape from his family castle led Ruttger to request their continued presence and help in regaining his family lands.
Ruttger von Hohenfels had not fully recovered from his two-year imprisonment by the Saracens, though he had escaped months before. The dream of returning to his home and seeing his parents had been the only thing keeping him alive. When he finally reached the castle, he was horrified to find that his uncle had taken over the castle and its lands and that his parents had been murdered. Waking in yet another prison cell, this time within his own castle, was more demoralizing than Ruttgar could imagine. Unbelievably, the three brothers stole into the castle with the sole purpose of freeing Ruttgar, at great risk to themselves. Despite Kitt’s objections, they also agreed to travel with Ruttgar to Castle Landend where friends of Ruttgar’s would surely be able to help him regain his family home. Will Ruttgar assert his droit de seigneur over Kitt? Will she acknowledge her feelings for him? Will Ruttgar be able to regain his lands and his birthright from his uncle?
With the title being The Cabochon Ring, I expected to see more of the ring, possibly woven throughout the story. Instead, the ring made only three brief appearances. So brief, in fact, I was surprised that (spoiler alert) it was used to determine Kitt’s true parentage. Ruttgar’s arrogance was described well, as was the brothers’ servile attitudes, but I felt Kitt’s behaviors were unrealistic. I had trouble visualizing how an eighteen-year-old woman could pass as a young boy and how she had remained such an innocent, considering they were performing in pubs and town halls. I also felt it was unrealistic for Kitt and Ruttgar to be at odds with each other almost constantly and then suddenly to live happily ever after. Solving the mystery of Kitt’s parentage through the ring, when it was not an integral part of the story, seemed almost as if the author was stretching to wrap up any and all loose ends.
Book Stats:
- Paperback: 310 pages
- Publisher: Awe-Struck (April 16, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1587495856
- ISBN-13: 978-1587495854
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Review Overview
Overall Rating
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Summary : I had trouble visualizing how an eighteen-year-old woman could pass as a young boy and how she had remained such an innocent, considering they were performing in pubs and town halls. I also felt it was unrealistic for Kitt and Ruttgar to be at odds with each other almost constantly and then suddenly to live happily ever after. Solving the mystery of Kitt’s parentage through the ring, when it was not an integral part of the story, seemed almost as if the author was stretching to wrap up any and all loose ends.
