Gwen’s review of One Knight Only (Bladesmen, Book 2) by Julia Latham
Historical romance released by Avon 27 Nov 07

There were a few things I liked about this book, but more I didn’t like or simply felt ambivalent about. Not a promising way to start a review, I realize, but bear with me while I explain what struck me – perhaps they’ll be things you like about a book. Me? Not so much.

Gak. I wrote the review and realized there was more I didn’t like about this story than I liked. So read on if you dare.

Besides. I figure if I didn’t get some reviews in soon, Sybil was going to take away my Duckie Club card.

This is the second book in Latham’s loosely related “Blademen” series (my name for it not hers). The heroes and heroines are thrust together against the backdrop of medieval England and all the resident political turmoil and intrigue that was part of the English court at the time. And so we come to the first thing that I didn’t like about the book: this whole political intrigue thing seemed forced to me.

The Bladesmen, or League of the Blade, is a supposedly “secret” society of talented swordsmen and noble fighters who help those in need – a secret that everyone seems to know about. Think Robin Hood, but no stealing from the rich thing and presumably no green tights. But, they’re good guys doing largely good deeds and protecting the innocent all in support of the greater good, if not necessarily in support a governing authority of some kind. This is the second thing I didn’t like: the whole concept of the Bladesmen seemed too contrived and and a little too convenient throughout the book. I never did buy into it.

The last important element of the story is, naturally, the hero and heroine’s relationship. Philip and Anne come from similarly humble origins, though Philip seeks to better himself thru an advantageous marriage. Anne seeks the same thru admittance to the “secret” society and be the first Bladeswoman – her only recourse since, as we’re told repeatedly, she’ll never make an advantageous marriage since she was born poor and was shunned by uncaring parents. This leads us to the last thing I didn’t like about the story: I never understood exactly the H/H’s backgrounds and some of the details seemed to shift occasionally. I hate that – when at the beginning we’re given one detail and by the end of the book it has changed, or morphed into something convenient. It’s like the author had to write themself out of a sticky plot point and the only way to do that was to change an early detail. I always wonder why they don’t go back and change the earlier detail so they synch up, but hey, I’m not a writer.

There were a number of other smaller things I didn’t like about the book. Such as, if Lady Rosamond – whom Anne, a maidservant, is impersonating on a trip around the English countryside to find a new husband said Lady – ends up seeing any of the husband candidates again, how on earth is she going to keep them from feeling like fools that her servant duped them during the earlier visit? I mean, they have a resemblance in coloring and general shape, but do not look alike – as is noted by many characters. Big ol’ hole in the plot, to me.

So, here we are. We’re in a setting that isn’t wholly believable, with plot devices that don’t ring true, and a hero and heroine whom we wonder if we ever really know even a couple of hundred pages in. Not a good place to be while reading a book. This is when things get truly far-fetched: the h/h get shown into the presence of King Henry to discuss some conspiracy with him and negotiate with him about the details. Uh. No.

There’s a lot of dithering at the end of the book. They’re rushing all over London, trying to save this person or that, catch this criminal and another. None of which are doing much to further the romance. And, after all, the romance is why I’m reading the bloody thing, isn’t it?

If you are a Julia Latham fan, you may like this book. If you like stories with some intrigue, you may like this book, but I think you’ll have as many eye-rolling moments as I did. I can’t recommend this book.

Grade: D

Read Lawson’s review here. She liked it more than I did.

The blurb:

A dangerous journey, two people in disguise–and a love that won’t be denied.

Daring and adventurous, Anne Kendall would give anything to join the secret band of warrior knights known as the League of the Blade, and she eagerly agrees to a perilous masquerade. But then Sir Philip Clifford, a reckless, brutally handsome knight, joins their party, bringing back memories of stolen kisses, passionate longings, and one night when she would have done anything to be his.

Anne would prefer to concentrate on the dangerous mission at hand…..but the glorious, savage passion that begins to develop between her and this unruly warrior may prove him to be the knight of her dreams…and her fantasies.

Read an excerpt.