The Legend of Lady Ilena

Lady Ilena #1

by Patricia Malone

Ilena, daughter of Moren and Grenna, has lived in the Vale of Enfert for all of her 15 years, but it is not her true home. Her parents refused to speak about the place they came from or their lineage. After the deaths of both of her parents, her questions remain unanswered. Her father’s final words to her provide the single “Go to Dun Alyn. Find Ryamen.”

Ilena sets out alone on the dangerous trip across Britain, certain only that Dun Alyn
is a fortress somewhere in the East. Her skills as a warrior are tested against raiders from the West and Painted Ones from the Far North, but her most formidable challenge awaits her at Dun Alyn. Will she be able to accept her true identity and fulfill her destiny?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical, Medieval, Fiction, Arthurian

240 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2002

About the author

Born in 1932, Patricia Malone is a former teacher who began a second career as a children's author with her debut novel, The Legend of Lady Ilena.

Reviews

[Aelvana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ilena has lived in the Vale of Enfert her whole life, but she knows it isn't really where she belongs. Her parents, Moren and Grenna, came from somewhere else, and with the both of them now dead, she decides to go after her elusive heritage. But the truth threatens those who seek power, and they will go to any lengths to stop her . . .

Entirely by coincidence, I find myself reading yet another historical novel set in early British/Scottish history (approximately AD 500s). This time, Ilena is the Christian and the local Druids are the ones with the bad relationship with her because of her religion. Thankfully, it's a lot faster paced, with plenty of action scenes, and Ilena herself participating in most of them thanks to her warrior upbringing.

Practically speaking, her religion is more window dressing to explain why Ilena opposes the Druid's human sacrifices. She doesn't pray except a muttered prayer at her father's burial or do much of anything that would distinguish her from everyone else in the village, aside from refusing to attend the sacrifices. That aside, I did like the period detail, from the clothing to the way people ate. It does a good job being evocative without dumping loads of history because it can. This is especially nice when Ilena is approaching another hill-fort town and describes the bits she notices.

I liked the action scenes too. Slingshots are deadly in the right hands, and even the best warriors can go down under a stone. . .

The romance baffled me. It felt like the story wanted to include a romance, didn't really have a great setup for it, and reached for the only available guy who had more than two lines of dialogue. Ilena knows him for only a few days, and the next time she sees him she's thinking about wanting to get married? At least he had the sense to tell her to wait on her decision! And he's likely ten years older than she is (although that bothers me less than the fact she doesn't know him).

Overall, not a bad read, though too much of the story is crossing that same mountain trail back and forth for me to want to read it again. I rate this book Recommended.

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[Karen Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I read as a kid and recently reread to see if it still held up.

Short story: It did.

Long story:

The Legend of Lady Ilena is historical fiction and takes place in Scotland during the time of King Arthur. It tells the story of Ilena, a young woman brought up in the Vale of Enfort in the East, who, upon the death of her father and hearing his dying words, chooses to journey West to seek out the answers to who she really is.

This book does not disappoint, and while it is a middle grade book I suspect the YA audience and even the adult audience will like this little overlooked gem.

While some elements of the plot may be predictable, the characters and the world are extremely well-drawn and not simplistic in the slightest. (For example, the main character is a woman and a well-drawn one, one of her closest allies is a dwarf, and there are mentions of prostitution and human sacrifice.) The villains, while still being pretty evil, have understandable motivations.

Overall I would recommend this book to people who like historical fiction, particularly that of Arthurian Britain, and strong heroines.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

⏳UPDATE: I re-read this for nostalgia, and it definitely delivered! Not super deep characterization but a fun, clean action plot with a few fun twists along the way. Perfect for a teen / YA novel!

I really fell in love with the historical fiction setting all over again (I didn't remember just how historically accurate Malone tries to be!) and loved following Ilena's journey for a second time.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I read this in middle school, but I remember not being able to put it down. Just the right level of adventure, intrigue, and romance for juvenile fiction. Hoping to re-read again soon to see what I think of it today!

[Jenny Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick easy read, suitable for middle grade as well as high school readers. The action scenes were well written, and there were historical facts sprinkled in, such as trenchers rather than plates and the descriptions of the fortresses.
I do feel like the language is a bit modern, but there are uses of "aye, lad, lass" to help set it in distant past.

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[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good historical-fiction book filled with action and a little bit of romance. I quite enjoyed this book's strong female protagonist, Ilena. It was fun following her through her journey to understand who she was, where she came from, and what her role she must play. Finding out that she was a twin in the end was pretty cool too, because I am also a twin.

[Kate Laverne · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread of a book from high school i loved. it holds up all right, but as an adult i found myself craving more detail, because the world of 6th century britain is rich and lovely. i would really have love to have seen both the religious tensions AND the places where there was little if no religious tension more deeply discussed & explicated. i also found the romance a little less compelling than i had in high school—overall, the timeline feels so tight. 3-4 days? there’s a LOT going on here.

that being said, YA early medieval fiction that is this well researched is pretty thin on the ground, and honestly, this was one of the books that got me interested in medieval history, so i have a soft spot for it. I also think that it’s an extremely well-written first person narrative, and the present tense works well. ilena is a believable, albeit mature & competent, fifteen-year-old—she has places of overconfidence and certainty that only teens have, and there’s a black or white way she looks at the world that felt real to me, and the way she begins to transition to seeing more shades of grey as the narrative goes on also felt real. ultimately, i was not super disappointed in this reread.

3.5 is probably closer but i’ll round to four due to nostalgia.

[Lauren Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have spent years searching for this book. It is something I read when I was in the 7th grade. I remembered details about the book vividly but could not recall the title, author, or most of the characters names. It has been terribly frustrating but thanks to AbeBooks.com I was finally able to resolve the mystery. I am so glad I did. I still love this book even though I am much older and this work is at a teen reading level. I finished it in only a few hours but it just brought home again how good the story is and why it bothered me so much that I could not find it. Ilena is a very endearing character that seems very real. You feel her emotions, frustrations, uncertainty, and cannot help but to admire her determination to leave behind everything she has ever known and to pursue her destiny across the country and on to the East, to Dun Alyn. Although she had many opportunities to play it safe or to take the easy way out she never falters. With grit and determination she faces her fate head on. So much to enjoy about this work. I highly recommend it.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legend of Lady Ilena is an action adventure with Ilena leaving the only life she knew to follow her father's quest. What I love about this tale is that Ilena is a strong independent woman who completely but realistically takes down her enemies. This is a great read with a strong but fairly realistic young lady (you know for a fiction book that is) trying to fight for what is right and to stay alive plus a little romance.

[Terry Marine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this two-part series. Enough plot twists to engage adult readers. Enough action to satisfy that desire. A touch of romance, and England too!

[Pollypan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Good, kept my attention, romance alright, not a reread.

[Io · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift for Christmas in 5th grade. I've read it nearly six or ten times since! This book often comes with me when I travel because I always know I'll enjoy reading it.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to think when I started this book, but I ended up really enjoying it. It placed me in an unfamiliar time with strong characters and a good plot.

[Inkosi Inkosikazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

HUH
They used the term crusade even though it has not happened yet
Or maybe it has and,'am just dumb
Anyways good read
nice book
is this historically accurate???

[Hannah Drost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilena is a great character. I like how she’s strong but still found love and she knows her worth.

[Lindy Aggar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legend of Lady Ilena by Patricia Malone is an exciting, action packed book. Its epic battle scenes thrill the mind, while vivid descriptions truly complete an unforgettable experience. You will want to read more and more. This book is great for getting lost in a world filled with tribal warfare and heroic people.

The main character is a warrior named Ilena. She grew up learning the skills required to be a great and mighty fighter. Ilena is the daughter of Moren and Grenna. Her family lives in the Vale of Enfert in Scotland during 500 C. E. Ilena knows that she is not from there, but her parents refuse to tell her where they are originally from, or about her ancestors.

After the tragic deaths of her parents, Ilena sets off on a journey to Dun Alyn, to find someone called Ryamen. Unfortunately, she often encounters a dark mysterious man that wants to kill her. With the help of friends, she safely crosses through vast forests and jagged mountains, but when she nears Dun Alyn alone, she is attacked. With no other option, she roars her fierce battle cry and charges. Hopelessly outnumbered, Ilena is rescued by a nearby hunting band that heard her. They bring Ilena to the fortress in Dun Alyn. Once inside, Ilena is called an evil shape shifter and is locked in a cage. She is saved by Ryamen, a lady who knew her father. Ryamen leaves Ilena promising she will come back in the morning. After waiting many long hours in the day for Ryamen to return, Ilena knows something went amiss and she goes back to the castle grounds to search. While there, Ilena forms new friendships that help her discover her true identity. With new responsibilities, and danger lurking around every corner, Ilena has to face her destiny and fight for what is right.

I highly recommend this historical fiction novel because the author really describes the emotions that Ilena feels, and the interesting story keeps you guessing. I believe it is 10 out of 10. It’s great for kids that are 12 years old and up that like adventure stories. I enjoyed every minute of reading it and could not put it down. I’m sure you will love The Legend of Lady Ilena too.

[Edith Dominguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book of “The Legend of Lady Ilena” by Patricia Malone, Lady Ilena is a young but confident woman, whose past is mystery. The main character is a warrior named Ilena. She grew up learning the skills required to be a great fighter. Ilena is the daughter of Moren and Grenna. Her family lives in the Vale of Enfert in Scotland during 500 C.E. Ilena knows that she is not from there, but there parents refuse to tell her where her where they are originally from, or about her ancestors. After the tragic deaths of her parents, Ilena sets off on a journey to Dun Alyn, to find someone called Ryamen. Unfortunately, she often encounters a dark mysterious man that want to kill her. With the help of friends, she safely crosses through the forest and jugged mountains, but when she nears Dun Alyn alone, she is attacked. Hopelessly outnumbered, Ilena is rescued by a nearby hunting band that heard her. They bring Ilena to the fortress in Dun Alyn.

[Lady Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an great teen read! It's got danger and action in spades, a coming-of-age storyline and dashes of romance. How can one not love that? A favorite of mine that I've read a few times now.

Ilena has grown up thinking she was the daughter of Moren and Grenna, strangers to the Vale of Enfert who arrived a few days after Ilena's birth. The people accepted them and took them into the community. Now as Moren lays dying, he tells Ilena to head East to Dun Alyn and to find her destiny there. Ilena is wary, but follows Moren's orders. This world is full of danger, and Ilena must try to navigate her way through angry Druids, Saxon raiders, and turncoats at every turn on her way to taking her place in Dun Alyn society. A riveting read!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a top quality first novel, and if it weren't my follow-up to In the name of the Wind, I may well have given it five stars. It was certainly good enough for me to want to buy my own copy one day (rather than the somewhat questionably worn library copy I ended up with).

Ilena is a strong main character, and it is really easy to see that Malone did quite a bit of research on the era - not only regarding the political upheaval of the time, but also daily rituals, customs, garb, and food. She paints a vivid picture, and the novel sucked me in quickly. I recommend this to anyone looking for a decent YA historical fiction (because let's face it, a lot of the historicals out there, for teens or adults, are simply not good).

[Megc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hungry for more medieval times finished with King Arthur. Then the Legend of Lady Ilena by Patricia Malone (Publisher: Delacorte Press) is for you. Only $4.99 new! This book is illustrated by Tristan Elwell, copy-right date February 2002.
Ilena has always lived in the Vale of Enfert, but has never known her lineage because her family is from the East. When she goes to the one place her dying father told her to people start to mistake her for their lost Lady Miquain, enemies awake. Set in Britain the story would thrill many people. I say ages 10 and up should read this book because no child should know what people do to their own family members for power.

[Jai · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young adult book about an independent young girl who sets off by herself after the death of her father to find out who she really is. The story was a very straightforward adventure and probably would be good for preteens. Ilena is unusual in that she is trained with weapons and warfare. A good book to learn some interesting facts about the time period such as Druid beliefs and inheritance through the female line. Fast read.

[Abby Westover · Rating 5 out of 5]

i saw this book at the library and picked it up just because i needed a book to read. i stuck it towards the end of my book pile to read later. as soon as i started reading it though, i was captured and couldnt put it down. the suspense is incredible and its one of very few books i was unable to predict. for anyone who likes stories from the dark ages and the movie king arthur, this is a MUST READ!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ilena knew she was an outsider from the Vale of Enfert, even though she's lived there her whole life. With her father's last words to her to guide her, Ilena sets out to find distand Dun Alyn to find her destiny. With the help of new friends, including King Arthur's man Durrant, Ilena discovers she is the heir of Dun Alyn and must free them from the evil druid Ogern.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

M'eh. Skimmed. It was trying to be too many things at once - historical fiction, fantasy, King Arthur story, Dark Ages story, mystery, secret princess, blah, blah, blah. It never draws you in - too much stiffness from the characters and not enough setting, like an 8th grade production of Our Town.

[Lucee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I didn't love it, and it won't be a new favorite, but it wasn't a bad read. The writing is probably what bugged me the most. It was stilted, and too formal. I understand that people spoke very formally back then, but it just seemed flat. I couldn't relate to Ilena in any way, so that was disappointing. Not a bad book, It just could've used better character development.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It's historical fiction set in Brittain in the middle ages. It was a good story about the lady Ilena and her adventures as she finds out her true past. But the writing style didn't capture me.

[Anneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Malone's first book, and it's way good! It's got the basic elements of a good adventure, and it's easy to relate to. And it should be believable, because it's Historical Fiction. A neat way to read Arthurian history, though!

[Gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was really able to predict the "twist" in this story it was still very well written and researched. This is a really great book for anyone who likes historical fiction and/or the dark ages. An enjoyable read overall.

[joy *the clean-reader extraordinaire* · Rating 3 out of 5]

for YA fans of dark ages british history

readalikes for adults: The Dark Mirror (The Bridei Chronicles, #1) (but with magic elements)

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of an orphaned girl whose father's last words were to return to Dun Aryn, a place she'd never been. I primarily liked the story. This one is probably about 3-1/2 stars. It is a small book--a fast read.