Percy's Plan

by Paul Jansen

Emily is a maidservant in the house of an earl in a
fictional 16th century locale called Emerland. The
stove makes the kitchen too hot, and there's always
something more to be done, but Emily is not one to sulk
when there are better ways to pass the time. Soon
though, she finds trouble in her employment and
seeks refuge in the forest. There, she makes friends,
travels, and learns much about herself and the
society she lives in. There are many other
characters throughout who may meet up from time
to time. Percy's Plan is written in prose, verse, and song.
Come and see what Emily is cooking -for recipes are
best learned first hand- and find the paths that lead to the forest.

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Paul Jansen writes semi-historical novels based in renaissance and medieval societies. The books use prose, verse, song, and other elements to convey the mood and romance of the times.

Reviews

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intricately interlaced narrative that’s exquisitely detailed magnetically pulls you into the past.

Atypically written in early-modern English and verse this distinctive and highly unusual novel is most assuredly a historical treat! I was certainly not expecting to encounter such a complex and richly woven storyline, full of delicious details so as to paint an authentic picture of the times. What I additionally loved was the inclusion of mouth-watering morsels and beautiful, lyrical prose of such impacting resonance. I felt at ease with such assured writing {by an accomplished writer}, and so was able to loose myself within an inspired work of thought-provoking depth.

The story of maidservant Emily is set within a wonderful fictional world {of the 16th Century} known as ‘Emerland’. It is a tale full of warmth and light heartedness, with plenty of gaiety and exciting events. The time that Emily spends within the forest is truly enchanting and quite magical, as similarly to authors such as JRR Tolkien; the woods hold so much mysticism and surreal significance. The character-driven narrative is a light, entertaining read that kept me glued to the page totally unaware of daily life continuing around me.

Readers of this genre and those seeking something different that encapsulates a time long ago, will find ‘Percy’s Plan’ an intriguing tale. I would rate this book 3.5 stars.

* I won a copy of Paul Jansen’s short story/ novella “Percy’s Plan” through a first-read giveaway on Goodreads *

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a romp through merry olde England this book was! Imagine Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" meets Chaucer's pilgrims in the midst of "Into the Woods"! The band of characters were delightful, and I liked the way their tales intertwined as the story continued. I also liked the nod to Shakespeare with the "play within the play" tactic. In fact, the only thing keeping this fun little story from being 5-Star was the difficulty in reading it (sometimes the dialogue was a bit too heavy-handed, even for Chaucer or Shakespeare). The brave of heart will be rewarded with a great story, though, if they keep going! As the earl's headmistress tells Emily at the tale's beginning: "Thoughts make for dust, not remove it." (Much thanks to GoodReads Giveaways for sending me this little jewel!)

[Lenita Sheridan]

A Nice Work of Historical Fiction

For an historical fantasy, this book does not have much fantasy in it. However, it is a good work of historical fiction and should be categorized as such. There is a nice romance in the book, as well. The poetic speech is well done and so is the rest of the dialogue. I would recommend this book to those who like historical fiction or historical romance.

[Tom Vause · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I won this book via Goodreads First Reads.

This isn't a book I would normally pick for myself. Mainly because of the type of language which was used by the characters. I did prefer some characters to others and I thought that some were more realistic than others. It was an interesting read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little read with plenty of jesting, some adventure, a little romance, and a perfectly timed pigeon! There were many characters and storylines, all interwoven into one little book.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very different kind of writing that I usually read, but overall I enjoyed it! Thank you goodreads for this free book!